FDA Goes KGB

Evidently it’s not enough for the FDA merely to oppose raw milk and raw milk products. They’re waging war against raw milk, and what would war be without espionage and other sordid tactics? Here’s an interesting (and unhappy) article about some of these underhanded tactics. Here are a few of them:

• Confiscate customer lists of raw milk dairy farmers
• Undercover information gathering
• Entrapment schemes
• Various forms of intimidation

These, of course, are just the tip of the iceberg. The FDA looks more like Comrade Vladimir Lenin’s secret police than a law enforcement agency of these United States of America… the land of the free and the home of the brave.

As always, please support our Estrellas. Also, forward this post around to all your friends to raise awareness of the FDA heavy-handed tactics. Thanks!

Getting to Know Your Pathogens

First thing is that the Estrella family is still in need of prayer, friendship, and financial support. Please be generous in all three areas!

As to pathogens, Kelli clued me in to this wonderful article that (*hold your breath*) actually attempts to educate people in regards to bacteria generally and foodborne pathogens in particular. I know, I know… it’s WAY more fun simply to scream “LISTERIA! LISTERIA!” at the top of one’s lungs and point guns at people. But, when the fun is over, some folks my ask, “Well… what, after all, is listeria?” If you’re one of those folks, you’ll really appreciate the article over at realmilk.com. Here’s a refreshing gulp to get you started:

Those who wish to ban all milk that is not pasteurized use the horrors (human listeriosis) of systemic disease caused by Listeria monocytogenes to support their cause. They consistently broadcast the high mortality rates from L. mono and focus on the susceptibility of pregnant women, fetuses, newborns and the elderly. However, Listeria monocytogenes has never been a significant public health risk from drinking fresh raw milk. Because of the long processing times and storage conditions, there have been rare outbreaks in which cheeses have been associated with listeriosis cases. This is a risk with cheeses prepared from both raw and pasteurized milk.

Banned and Controlled Foods in the US

Here is an interesting and attractive article on 15 banned foods in the United States of America. #1 on the list is good ol’ raw milk. Basically, I wanted to eat and/or drink everything on the list (except the horse). Enjoy and, as always, don’t forget to support the Estrellas generously.

Thanks and have a great day!

Opposition to Tyranny in Kentucky

Death in a Bottle

As always, please support our local family that the FDA’s shut down. The Estrellas still need a great deal of financial support. Please be generous.

A friend of mine on Facebook made me aware of this nice little article on Front Porch Republic. Give it a read. It’s informative and well-written. The author, Jerry Salyer, gives us yet another example of government tyranny in the area of food and drink. He also gives us an example of how citizens are working around that tyranny.

Please go read his article. In the meantime, I’ll go out strong with one of Salyer’s tastier morsels:

As for Louisville’s MiniWel [the Whole Life Buying Club] in particular, as of this writing its representatives have conceded that the quarantine has no legal basis – yet evidently regard miscreant raw milk drinkers as undeserving of an apology. It seems hunting the White Whale is so important that there is no time to express the slightest hint of embarrassment (much less remorse) at having been caught out-of-bounds: OK, OK, so we overstepped our authority – so what? We’re still right and we know it, and what you need, comrade, is a tall, cool, frothy glass of USDA-approved shut-the-hell-up.

Shiny New Tyranny

Well, some of the first changes from the Food Safety Modernization Act are coming. First one “allows the FDA to administratively detain food the agency believes has been produced under insanitary or unsafe conditions.” Overlooking the split infinitive, this means that, while the FDA used to have to produce credible evidence that the food was contaminated, now is just has to suspect. Very modern. Very safe. AWESOME! Second one requires food importers to tell the FDA is any other country has refused to admit their product. This seems new change seems quite sane. Since the FDA is mowing down small local farms (specially raw-milk ones), we’ll be importing more and more goodness from Mexico (and other tasty places!) – which has certainly been the trend.

Here is the FDA’s press announcement. Here is some commentary on the same.

Don’t forget to support our Estrellas!! - We’ve almost hit the 10% mark.

More FDA Heavy Handedness

Don’t forget to support the Estrellas… they need our help!

FDA Seeks Permanent Injunction Against Amish Farmer Dan Algyer – see here for original post.

On Tuesday, April 26, the FDA revisited Pennsylvania Amish farmer Dan Algyer, serving notice that they have “filed a complaint for permanent injunction against [him], for distributing unpasteurized (or “raw”) milk for human consumption in interstate commerce,” according to the FDA press release.

What Dan Algyer does is as much a right as breathing. He has done nothing unlawful in conducting direct private trade with other individuals. He is not engaged in interstate commerce as the FDA accuses. Aside from the Constitutional guarantees of right to contract, food sovereignty, of which Dan’s trade is a perfect example, is a God-given inalienable right. No state has the right to proscribe the food choice of an individual. It might have the power through enforcement agents to hinder it, but it does not have the right.

Local Rules RULE!

 

Self-Government is Patriotic!

Dear friends,

 

There are some interesting developments regarding local citizens banding together to exercise (HOLD YOUR BREATH) self-government with regard to small farms and food processing. Get a gander at those wonderful crazies over in Sedgwick, Maine!

Turns out that something similar might be happening in Montesano, Washington. Let’s hope so! Here’s a blurb from The Vidette.

Monte may oppose feds
MONTESANO — The Montesano City Council is considering resolutions to support the Estrella Family Creamery in its fight against federal food inspectors who shut down the Wynooche Valley makers of artisan, raw milk cheeses.

“If I were the king in Montesano, I’d pass them both,” Mayor Ron Schillinger said of a pair of proposed resolutions. “It just depends on how feisty the council wants to get.”

Federal agents raided the farm Oct. 21 and posted a seizure notice banning the sale or distribution of more than $100,000 worth of hard cheese aging in manmade cheese caves on the farm. The order effectively shut down the award-winning operation.

Hubba hubba to the city of Montesano! Let’s hope and pray the Council supports our beloved Montesano cheese-makers. Also, please don’t forget to donate generously directly to the Estrella family.

We Love the Estrellas!

Here’s part of the reason why:

Seattle PI Article

We love Shonagh Home. She actually made the trek out to Montesano to meet with the Estrellas and check out the Estrella Family Creamery. Thankfully, she wrote all about the experience. The loved the cleanliness of the facility, but she doesn’t have the axe to grind that the FDA does.

John F. Sheehan

In the words of John F. Sheehan, director of plant and dairy food safety has been quoted as saying, “Raw milk should not be consumed at anytime, by anyone, for any reason.” Also, he likens consuming raw-milk products with pointing a loaded gun at your own head and hoping the chamber’s empty while pulling the trigger. Sheehan’s exactly the kind of guy we need looking out for our health! His words are like intellectual E. coli.

 

Since the FDA has set their sights on the raw-milk industry, what can we do to preserve it? Home says that it’s about banding together and supporting our community farms:

Community is key. Community creates education and awareness, and community can move mountains. Here in the Seattle area, there are efforts now to create community support for the Estrellas who are on the verge of losing their farm entirely.

Please help us support the Estrellas. Be a part of the community upholding the Estrella Family Creamery. Be generous.

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