Raw Milk Bill clarification

[Guest guest]

There seems to be a bit of confusion about the MN Raw Milk Access Bill (SF

147/HF 255) so here is some information to help clarify what it is and what it

isn't.

- First and foremost, it protects the RELATIONSHIP between the farmer and the

consumer. It protects their RIGHT TO PRIVATE CONTRACT.

- The bill clarifies and improves a vague, restrictive and outdated law that's

on the books from the 1940s called MN statute 32.393. The proposed bill protects

the farmer and consumer from the state potentially misinterpreting the old law,

as it has done in the past, due to its vagueness. It brings the law up to date

and in line with modern, private farm-to-consumer commerce.

- RAW MILK IS LEGAL IN MINNESOTA and always has been. The bill is essentially a

transportation bill giving practical access to an already legal food. Farmers

are already delivering ILLEGALLY to consumers, and this bill makes private

delivery LEGAL.

- Under the new bill, it would be possible, IF THEY WANT TO, for a farmer or

person the farmer designates to deliver raw milk and raw milk products such as

cheese, cottage cheese, butter, ice cream, etc., directly to private homes, drop

sites or any locations determined by the farmer and consumer. Alternatively, it

allows the consumer or person the consumer designates to pick up and deliver

these foods.

- These options are not mandated and the bill does not require anyone to do

anything. It does NOT REQUIRE the farmer to transport.

- This bill simply defines what the delivery possibilities and options are, so

that the state no longer has the capacity to misinterpret the law and question

these practices of modern, direct farmer-to-consumer commerce. The state would

not be able to raid consumers or farmers for these types of private transactions

because the options are clearly spelled out.

- The bill deals only with raw milk and raw milk products and has nothing to do

with pasteurized dairy. It does NOT allow for or pertain to retail sales or any

type of commerce to the general public; it is about private transactions between

a farmer and a consumer. It does not pertain to regulation and inspection. It

does not preclude the state from investigating cases of food-borne illness that

it already has the ability to do for all foods. It does not preclude or prevent

future laws people might want to pass such as herd share laws, voluntary

testing, etc.; those are separate issues not within the scope of this bill.

In summary, the bill updates the law so that raw dairy foods can be delivered

off the farm or picked up by consumers with the same freedoms and options

afforded to other farm foods (think CSAs, etc.)

The consumer no longer has to drive to the farm unless the farmer and consumer

agree that is what they want to do. The objective is that the CONSUMER AND

FARMER HAVE A PROTECTED RELATIONSHIP.

It's about FOOD FREEDOM.