RE: Visit from the USDA Food and Drug squad

August 9, 2010

When I went to a cheesemaking class I was told that they can inspect you and will go through with a fine tooth comb. They also concentrate heavily on the labels. He said to expect them to spend about two days on your property if you are small and expect them once or twice every five years. I will go back through my notes to see if I have more information.To:

RawDairy Sent: Mon, August 9, 2010 10:53:21 AMSubject: Visit from the USDA Food and Drug squad

Hi, I have a small dairy. I make raw milk cheese.

I had a visit from the USDA Food and Drug Admin. this morning.

August 9, 2010

, did I email the raw milk group, or did I email you personally, not sure if my email is getting on the main group site.

Thanks so much!!

Rose

August 9, 2010

Your on RosieSent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerrySender: RawDairy Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2010 12:54:38 -0400To: <RawDairy >ReplyTo: RawDairy Subject: Re: Visit from the USDA Food and Drug squad , did I email the raw milk group, or did I email you personally, not sure if my email is getting on the main group site.Thanks so much!!Rose

August 9, 2010

Rosie-

You should talk to Pete Kennedy of the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund. He would have more insights on your situation and how to handle it.

An important thing you may want to point out is if your cheese does not cross state lines the federal regulators should have no reason to inspect you, only the state regulators.

-Bill

Your on Rosie Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Sender: RawDairy

Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2010 12:54:38 -0400

To: <RawDairy >

ReplyTo: RawDairy

Subject: Re: Visit from the USDA Food and Drug squad

, did I email the raw milk group, or did I email you personally, not sure if my email is getting on the main group site.

Thanks so much!!

Rose

August 9, 2010

All emails are on the Raw Dairy Yahoo group :)To: RawDairy Sent: Mon, August 9, 2010 12:54:38 PMSubject: Re: Visit from the USDA Food and Drug squad

, did I email the raw milk group, or did I email you personally, not sure if my email is getting on the main group site.

Thanks so much!!

Rose

August 9, 2010

Contact that Group that helps those selling raw dairy.... the name slips me at this second <Brain fart>these Govt People are up to no good (in General terms) and Expect they did contaminate amish produced Products as you hinted.... They're out to kill small producers so BIG DAIRY INC can forse DEAD DAIRY down our throatsCorruption is at its Highest ever in the Food industry!To: RawDairy From: kefircheese@...Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2010 10:53:21 -0400Subject: Visit from the USDA Food and Drug squad

Hi, I have a small dairy. I make raw milk cheese.

I had a visit from the USDA Food and Drug Admin. this morning.

I have been in business making a raw milk cheese for 3 years, never have seen these people, and was never told by any of my state inspectors that they can come and do an inspection.

They had large bags with them and told me they wanted to inspect my manufactoring facility.

I have read so much about what the amish have been suffering, with these people coming to emplant things just to bring charges, that I was not going to let them on my property.

I told them if they were to come back to bring me the regs that tells me they are allowed on my property.

If anyone here knows the rules about what they can and cannot do, can you please inform me, either here or through my direct email. kefircheese@...

I may already be in trouble for kicking them off my property. I need to know the law!!!

Thanks so much!

Rose

August 9, 2010

> I may already be in trouble for kicking them off my property. I need to know

> the law!!!

> Thanks so much!

> Rose

>

Rosie,

Don't worry. Now you've got time to get some more information. This kind of

thing is a reminder to everyone who produces....we need to know the law BEFORE

they show up. With the increase in raids and inspections (legal, lawful or

otherwise), we have to know what to do and what not to do when it happens. It's

already a tense experience which is only made worse by wondering if what they

are doing is legal, etc.

Contacting and joining Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund is a very good

suggestion, as someone just said.

Find out if they have any jurisdiction over your milk or facility. They want

everyone to believe here that the State Milk Board has sway over every drop of

milk that emerges from a cow...not true. It's very clear that they can only

regulate graded dairies. You may be in a different situation if you're licensed,

or in interstate commerce, for example, where Federal regs might apply.

If you determine that they have no authority, get a tape recorder and/or

camcorder. Know who is going to operate it when they show up. Get the Federal

Public Servant's Questionnaire and ask THEM the questions first. You can find it

at http://www.radio887.com/public.html among other places.

As an aside, we always carry a copy of the state statute and any other relevant

codes with us when we make deliveries (we're in Missouri). The police were sent

out to give us a ticket in a municipality recently...the police officer thought

he knew the law but when we showed him the statute, complete with the title, he

was convinced and is now on our side.

Hope this helps,

Kathy

Pasture Nectar Farm

Missouri

August 9, 2010