Farm to consumer sales will include home deliveries and there will be no restrictions on quantities, though raw milk producers will have to register with the government, will need to meet certain hygiene requirements, will be subject to inspections and testing for pathogens, and will need to label raw milk appropriately so consumers can make informed decisions about consumption and the risks involved.

“I recognise that people feel strongly about their right to buy and drink raw milk. Equally, I am also aware of the strong concerns about the public health risks associated with drinking raw milk and the potential risk to New Zealand’s food safety reputation. We have worked hard to find the right balance between managing the risks to public health while recognising the demand from rural and urban consumers to access raw milk,” said Jo Goodhew, New Zealand’s Minister of Food Safety.

Read more via The Complete Patient blog,  Seeking “Right Balance,” New Zealand Legalizes Farm-to-Consumer Raw Milk Sales, Deliveries.

Support the Campaign for Real Milk, join the Weston A. Price Foundation, today!

The post 90% of New Zealanders Surveyed Say Raw Milk Should Be Personal Choice; Government Listens appeared first on Real Milk.

Dear Editor:

I would like to add some balance to the article, “Diet Alert for Mums-to-Be,” New Zealand Herald Monday July 7. I realise this is a sensitive subject and don’t wish to diminish the cautionary messages at all, I simply wish to add further information. The article talks about avoiding food made with unpasteurized milk, then goes on to include raw milk itself as a food to avoid.

I wish to point out a recent study, Risk Profile: Listeria monocytogenes in Raw Milk, MPI Technical Paper No: 2014/16, May 2014. The key findings: the existing information suggests that the risk of listeriosis is low for individual New Zealanders who consume raw milk.

The study also finds there has been no listeria illness confirmed with drinking raw milk, worldwide since 1986.

There is a small risk from raw milk products such as cheeses, which the article mentions, along with other foods. But the article fails to point out the listeria illnesses and several deaths caused by pasteurized milk and milk products around the world. Pasteurization is touted to solve all problems and render the products completely safe. But looking at the statistics of other countries tells us otherwise. In the USA alone there are 64 illnesses and 11 deaths from listeria in pasteurized cheese reported since 1998. What are the statistics for NZ?

My point is there are risks with many foods, but official studies don’t support the constant extra negative attention raw milk receives. In fact European studies suggest raw milk reduces asthma incidence, which would save many people and governments a lot of trauma as well as dollars.

I would however point out that not all milk is the same. Raw milk for drinking needs to come from cows whose udders are properly prepared for milking to reduce the risk of contamination, followed by safe handling practices and good refrigeration. Just the same as with other foods really.

Ray Ridings
Chairman, Raw Milk Producers Association of NZ
whitejuicenz@yahoogroups.com

The post Defending Raw Milk in New Zealand appeared first on Real Milk.

In exploring how they could take a more lenient approach to raw milk consumption in the United Kingdom, the FSA said it was open to allowing the sales of raw milk through vending machines – which would increase sales within a controlled environment.

David Gumpert, author of The Complete Patient blog, points out that this new report, in addition to New Zealand’s recent consideration of more lenient raw milk regulations, means that the FDA could quickly be becoming internationally isolated on the issue of raw milk.

The Campaign for Real Milk is a project of the Weston A. Price Foundation, a nutrition education non-profit based in Washington, D.C. To learn more about raw milk and other nutrient dense foods, attend one of the upcoming Wise Traditions conferences.

The post Is the FDA Falling Behind Other Countries in Raw Milk Run? appeared first on Real Milk.