Cooperative Network Opposes Raw Milk Legislation
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (March 10, 2010) – At a joint hearing before the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Higher Education and the Assembly Committee on Rural Economic Development today, Cooperative Network testified in opposition to SB 434 and AB 628, legislation that would authorize dairy farmers who hold grade A dairy farm permits to sell unpasteurized milk, buttermilk, butter and cream directly to consumers on the farm if the farmers obtain a raw milk permit from DATCP.
“Cooperatives are a big part of Wisconsin’s $26 billion dairy industry,” said David Ward, Cooperative Network Dairy Director. “We don’t want to see that industry suffer in the event of an illness outbreak caused by raw milk.”
The legislation also requires that the container be prepared and filled in a sanitary manner, and the dairy farmer must display a sign indicating that raw milk does not provide the protection of pasteurization. In addition, the bill provides that a dairy farmer is not liable for selling such products, except in cases of willful or wanton acts or omissions. The legislation is authored by Senator Pat Kreitlow (D-Chippewa Falls) and Rep. Chris Danou (D-Trempealeau).
In his testimony Ward went on to explain the many reasons Cooperative Network is opposed to the legislation, including:
- If raw milk sales are allowed, incidents of sickness will almost certainly increase. Wisconsin Division of Public Health records detail four outbreaks of illness linked to consuming unpasteurized milk or milk products since 2000, responsible for sickening at least 131 people. Young people are often the most affected as found in a recent Walworth County case, where 21 of the victims were under the age of 18, and one was hospitalized.
- There is the real potential of damaging Wisconsin’s $26 billion dairy industry if more illness results from enactment of such legislation. That damage could be “immense and even irreversible.”
- The grant of immunity from civil liability granted the seller is “totally inappropriate, and runs counter to all requirements placed on the existing dairy processing industry.”
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