Finally, an email update from Mark of OPDC indicates a new bill, AB 2782, has been introduced. There will be an April hearing that needs to be really big, so plan to attend, even though we don't yet know the date! Testify! More from Mark here (dated 3/14, but email sent 3/24):
Upcoming California Raw Milk Events
Senate Hearing in April Critical to Keeping Raw Cream Alive in California
March 14, 2008
In the last 60 days Claravale and OPDC have been handling the bruising technical details of the new AB 1735 raw milk testing standards.
Suffice it to say that the fight has been very tough. The CDFA has been unwilling to listen or cooperate with us at all. It remains painfully clear that AB 1735 does not work for raw milk consumers or producers as it is currently enforced. AB 1735 is not about safety, but about market disruption and banning a living food.
You will recall that AB 1735 establishes unrealistic testing standards for coliforms in raw milk. (Remember, coliforms do not cause disease, and are actually beneficial to the immune system; many states do not test for them at all.) Not only that, but CDFA insists on testing finished product, rather than just the bulk tank. That is where the real problem begins. Why? Because of raw cream.
The Raw Cream Challenge
When raw milk is separated into cream and skim, the process adds coliforms to the count. Any coliforms in the source raw milk tend to concentrate in the cream after being spun around in the separator. This happens regardless of how clean the equipment is kept. We have found that raw milk with a less-than-1 coliform count produces skim with less-than-1, but cream with counts from 30 to 60 — a failing score according to AB1735. Basically, the standard set out in this bill acts as a ban on raw cream.
If AB 1735 were enforced at the farm bulk tank instead of testing at the finished product, both Claravale and OPDC would test out very well. In fact, CDFA has publicly said that Claravale and OPDC pass tests from the bulk tank. There are no harmful bacteria in our creameries. Our testing has shown repeatedly and conclusively that
all milk arriving at the farm creamery is free of harmful bacteria. Yet CDFA refuses to discuss or acknowledge these facts.
Raw cream from OPDC was already stopped for seven days because of AB 1735. It is now back on the shelves, but Claravale faces the same fate as early as next week.
The coming weeks are filled with exciting raw milk political activities and we need you to be ready:
Hearing in Hollister to stop harassment
When: March 19th - 1:30 PM (Note: this had already happened when the email came out - so I'm deleting this section to help readers focus on the AB 2782 and hearing stuff. -- AuLait)
Senate Hearing on AB 2782, our new raw milk bill
What is AB 2782? This bill will require testing of bulk tank raw milk for a realistic coliform level of less than 10. Most other raw milk states test at the bulk tank and not at the finished product. Many do not measure coliforms at all! Those that do test permit a much higher level of 50 coliforms. Remember, coliforms do not cause
disease, and are actually beneficial to the immune system.
When: April (date to be announced)
Where: State Capitol, Sacramento
What to Expect: This is another big chance to let CDFA know how we feel about our sacred raw milk. The hearing is sponsored by Assemblyman Tom Berryhill, and cosponsored by Assemblypersons Nicole Parra and Mike Villines. We are asking all raw milk consumers to attend this huge State Senate hearing. Senator Dean Florez will
hear testimony from pro raw milk experts and you, the consumer. CDFA will be asked to answer to the state Senate about AB 1735 and the secret sneak attack on raw milk.
Everyone must come! We need thousands of people, wearing their raw milk tee shirts and lapel pins. Bring your children. Free lapel pins and raw milk will be handed out to all attendees!
Please make arrangements in your schedules to attend the Senate hearing in April. It will be bigger than the Ag Assembly hearing in January, which was attended by 600 people!
Headlines we want to see by 2010:
"Raw Milk a Better Choice than Pasteurized: builds immune system, heals asthma." "Modern testing technology has all but eliminated the risk of pathogens." "Raw milk a safe food choice."
Thank you for your continued strength and vision in the fight to protect our right to consume living food...
...Only living food brings life!
Warmly,
Mark McAfee, Founder OPDC