To The Power Hour Audience:

Below is the action alert that Weston A Price Foundation sent out. I wrote a sample letter (and another member of our local chapter helped revise it) for those in this area to use if needed to the FDA. I have also attached that if you are interested.

Lisa

ACTION ALERT FOR RAW MILK SUPPORTERS

We are sending this important raw milk action alert to all members.
Please read carefully!

The United States Food and Drug Administration has recently sent a "Warning Letter" to Indiana farmer, David Hochstetler of Forest Grove Dairy, informing him that the agency has determined David distributed unpasteurized milk and cream for human consumption in interstate commerce, violating the regulation codified in Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations, section 1240.61(a) [21 CFR 1240.61]. The letter notified David that he has 15 working days to issue a written response to FDA outlining the steps he has taken to correct the violations and prevent their recurrence.

21 CFR 1240.61 reads, in part: "(a) No person shall cause to be delivered into interstate commerce or shall sell, otherwise distribute, or hold for sale or other distribution after shipment in interstate commerce any milk or milk product in final package form for direct human consumption unless the product has been pasteurized . . . ."

David has entered into herd lease agreements with consumer cooperatives in Michigan and Illinois under the terms of which he provides raw dairy to the cooperatives' members (Richard Hebron, manager of the Family Farms Cooperative, is currently under investigation by the Prosecutor's office in Cass County Michigan for the business he has conducted with Forest Grove Dairy). David has indicated that he will contest FDA's finding of a violation on the grounds that the lease agreements are private contracts not subject to the agency's jurisdiction.

The FDA issued 21 CFR 1240.61 in 1987 in response to a federal judge's order that the agency ban the sale of raw milk for human consumption in interstate commerce. The agency expanded the scope of the regulation far beyond what the judge ordered. FDA contends that any raw milk product for human consumption (except cheese aged at least 60 days) crossing state lines constitutes a violation, not just when there is an actual sale involved.

During the 20-year existence of the regulation the agency has never enforced it beyond sending warning letters to suspected violators. With David set to challenge the agency's finding of violations, his case could be a litmus test of the validity of the regulation. Much is at stake.

Many consumers are currently able to obtain raw dairy products from out of state sources only. FDA enforcement action against David Hochstetler could make suppliers of raw dairy products more reluctant to ship interstate, effectively denying many the freedom to consume foods of their choice. Conversely, an FDA decision not to enforce the regulation against David would make producers more willing to ship raw dairy products interstate and would increase their chances of being able to opt out of the dairy cooperative system and the poverty-level prices paid its members.

21 CFR 1240.61 is an oppressive regulation making no distinction between milk from confinement cows and milk from cows on pasture. It particularly penalizes farmers like David Hochstetler who have an exemplary track record for producing clean, safe milk. For many years David held a Grade A license from the state of Indiana; during that time, tests for bacteria in the milk he produced consistently showed levels well below the limit required for pasteurized milk under the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), the governing document for interstate shipments of milk to be sold at retail.

Overturning the regulation in court would be costly and take years to accomplish. A more realistic goal would be to put enough public pressure on FDA so that they don't enforce the regulation. Please take the action below.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? We believe that individuals' voices are paramount in this continuing struggle to eat and drink our choice of foods. Please write courteous letters which are to the point. Please consider snail-mail or fax instead of email; A LETTER HAS MORE IMPACT.

Suggestions follow:

Write the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and urge them to discontinue their interference with private contractual matters.

Talking points:

FDA rarely attempts to enforce interstate regulation against cow share and herd lease agreements, and the regulation itself (the result of a 1987 lawsuit) is overbroad and exceeds the judge's orders in that case.

Cow share and herd lease agreements are private agreements by people who are knowledgeable about the small risk they assume, and who wish to obtain the best possible nutrition for their family. Don't jeopardize a food source that keeps families healthy and whole and keeps family farms viable.

Include a testimonial about how raw milk has benefited your own health or the health of your family. If you participate in a cow share or herd lease remember to use the correct language which reflects the underlying legal arrangement, e.g. we obtain raw milk and the co-op provides raw milk; avoid terms such as sale and purchase.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Joann Givens, Detroit District Director
FDA, Detroit District Office
300 River Place, Suite 5900
Detroit, MI 48207
Fax: 313-393-8139
Joann.Givens@fda.hhs.gov

CAPT Robert Hennes, Chief CFSAN/Milk Safety Branch
Food and Drug Administration
5100 Paint Branch Parkway College Park, MD 20740
Fax: (301) 436-2715
Robert.Hennes@fda.hhs.gov

Also copy U.S. Senator Carl Levin of Michigan who, on behalf of Family Farms Coop, has made inquiries into the investigation of David Hochstetler (mail to Levin's Washington office is delayed two weeks for security screening so send copy to Michigan).

Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building
477 Michigan Avenue, Suite 1860
Detroit, MI 48226-2576
Fax: 202-224-1388 (DC office)
Go to http://levin.senate.gov to email
Farmers and consumers together can bring this change. Please stand up and protect our supply of real dairy and other nutrient-dense foods.

Thank you in advance for writing these letters!