I am happy to report that we won the raw milk debate here in Britain. Here is the amended paper from the Food Safety Authority (FSA): http://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/multimedia/pdfs/board/board-papers2014/fsa-140704.pdf

Here’s a summary of wins:

• FSA believes that it is not proportionate to ban all raw drinking milk.
• Plans to ban the retail sale of non-bovine raw drinking milk appear to have been dropped.
• Consideration will now be given to how retail sale of raw drinking milk can be liberalized, including the use of vending machines. This is likely to involve requiring additional tests and health and safety procedures.
• Amended proposals taking these things into account will be put to the board soon.

Here is a summary clip from the public consultation event: FSA Raw Milk 3.5 min highlights CUT4 DC v1.3 10-7-14.mp4. The full public consultation event is online at: http://food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2014/apr/raw-milk-video.

I hope this victory will help the review taking place in New Zealand and form a template for how to counter anti-raw milk laws in USA and beyond.

Still, we must continue to be vigilant as the UK reports mention further actions pertaining to raw milk by the EU.

Phil Ridley, London Chapter Leader

The post Defending Raw Milk in the UK appeared first on Real Milk.

The FSA began reviewing raw milk standards in October 2013, following a high profile prosecution against a dairy farmer who sold raw milk through a vending machine in Selfridges’ department stores. The FSA’s review covered England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (the sale of raw milk is banned in Scotland).

After four months of review, the FSA “…does not believe the regulations need changing, but businesses and those who enforce the rules need greater clarity on what is acceptable,” says Steve Wearne, Head of Policy at the FSA (Dairy Reporter). Dairy UK, the largest “Big Dairy” lobbying group, has called to outlaw all raw milk sales and there is some concern that the FSA’s final review will include an option to require that all milk is pasteurized before going on sale, therefore completely banning raw milk.

However, as part of the consultation, the FSA has invited members of the public to share their views on raw milk. Click here to share your support of raw milk.

The Campaign for Real Milk is a project of the nutrition education non-profit, The Weston A. Price Foundation. Donate to help fund research into the benefits of nutrient dense foods.  http://www.westonaprice.org/lab

The post UK’s Food Standards Agency Still Reviewing Raw Milk Guidelines: Input Needed appeared first on Real Milk.

According to the Agency’s Director of Food Safety, “… the policy review should include consideration of the current statutory controls to ensure they provide a clear, consistent and appropriate regulatory framework to control the public health risk, particularly in the light of developments in the marketing of these products.”

This review stems from the high profile January 2013 prosecution against dairy farmer Steve Hook, who sold raw milk through a vending machine in Selfridges’ department stores. The case was eventually dropped, but the future of raw milk is more uncertain than ever – especially with increased pressure from Dairy UK, a dairy interest group that is actively lobbying for the ban of raw milk across the United Kingdom.

Raw milk sales are one of the few segments of food law that is not regulated by the European Union, so countries across the EU have adopted different measures in allowing it. Philip Ridley, a Weston A. Price chapter leader in London, is concerned that the FSA might attempt to close the loopholes that currently allow the sale of unpasteurized cream and non-bovine milk, ban the ordering of raw milk from the internet, and ban the use of vending machines for selling raw milk.

He urges concerned citizens to speak up in support of the legalization of raw milk. People who want their voices heard can email Linden Jack of the FSA and ask to be included in the FSA consultation.

Linden Jack

Head of Food Hygiene Policy Branch

Hygiene and Microbiology Division

Food Standards Agency

3rd Floor Aviation House

125 Kingsway

London

WC2B 6NH

Phone: + 44 (0) 20 7276 8941

eMail: linden.jack@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

To learn more about events leading up to the FSA inquiry, check out the Artisan Food Law blog.

The Campaign for Real Milk is a project of the nutrition education non-profit, The Weston A. Price Foundation. Donate to help fund research into the benefits of nutrient dense foods.  http://www.westonaprice.org/lab

The post UK Raw Milk Review Begins in Mid-October appeared first on Real Milk.