Re: Raw milk fans oppose new California dairy standards

[Guest guest]

I don't know what other Grade A retail raw dairies in Washington state have

had for their counts, but my bottled milk has been sampled almost every

month since I got my Grade A retail raw license August 12, 2005, and

most of the time there was NO coliform count at all found, and otherwise a

a high of 2, with one time a count of 10; my total bacteria counts have all

been under 2,000 and usually under 1,000 with this year frequently being

under 250. Anyone looking at my process can see it is very simple and

uncomplicated.

http://www.rainhaven.com/dairy.html

I wish this energy could have been put to asking California lawmakers to

allow hand filling and hand capping of milk containers, so that there could

be DOZENS of Grade A retail raw dairies in California (and in ALL

states).... let's get some GOAT dairies licensed down in CA!!

Debbie Higgins

Rainhaven Grade A Raw Goat Microdairy

Duvall, WA

http://www.rainhaven.com/

>

> Raw milk consumers oppose new dairy standards set to take effect next

> month in California that they say could outlaw some of their preferred

> products.

> The new law doesn't create an outright ban on raw milk, but producers

> believe it could dry up supplies by setting new bacteria limits they say

> are difficult to meet.

(snip)

> State officials, on the other hand, say producers should be able to meet

> the standards, which they maintain are necessary for consumer safety.

> The new standard, part of AB1735, takes effect in January, setting a

> limit of no more than 10 coliforms per milliliter.

[Guest guest]

I don't know what other Grade A retail raw dairies in Washington state have

had for their counts, but my bottled milk has been sampled almost every

month since I got my Grade A retail raw license August 12, 2005, and

most of the time there was NO coliform count at all found, and otherwise a

a high of 2, with one time a count of 10; my total bacteria counts have all

been under 2,000 and usually under 1,000 with this year frequently being

under 250. Anyone looking at my process can see it is very simple and

uncomplicated.

http://www.rainhaven.com/dairy.html

I wish this energy could have been put to asking California lawmakers to

allow hand filling and hand capping of milk containers, so that there could

be DOZENS of Grade A retail raw dairies in California (and in ALL

states).... let's get some GOAT dairies licensed down in CA!!

Debbie Higgins

Rainhaven Grade A Raw Goat Microdairy

Duvall, WA

http://www.rainhaven.com/

>

> Raw milk consumers oppose new dairy standards set to take effect next

> month in California that they say could outlaw some of their preferred

> products.

> The new law doesn't create an outright ban on raw milk, but producers

> believe it could dry up supplies by setting new bacteria limits they say

> are difficult to meet.

(snip)

> State officials, on the other hand, say producers should be able to meet

> the standards, which they maintain are necessary for consumer safety.

> The new standard, part of AB1735, takes effect in January, setting a

> limit of no more than 10 coliforms per milliliter.

[Guest guest]

Hi Tammy - not Debbie here but my understanding is that you want to sample from actual sale milk in final containers because contamination can happen at any number of places in the process. If I remember correctly claravales milk in their bulk tank tests out fine but it is in the bottling capping process that there are problems - and it is not fecal coliform contamination. The problems are more difficult to solve when doing mechanical filling and capping. Debbie is right on on the need to allow producers to hand fill and cap. Makes for much cleaner milk in a micro dairy setting. Just think how different the world would be if we had many many small producers instead of just the big guys:o) Aliza in oregon where you have to use a mechanical capper if you are a licensed dairy. When taking samples for testing, I've been told you should milk directlyinto the sample

container rather than pulling samples from a bulk tank orrandom bottle. Supposedly it keeps the counts lower. Is that how you doit? I'll take a look at your web site as well.Thanks!Tammy K.Proverbs FarmAlvin TX

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[Guest guest]

Hi, Aliza! I'm sure random sampling gives a better overall picture of

milk cleanliness, but I think some folks just like to ensure they have

low counts It makes sense that the less handling and contact with

containers the lower the chance of contamination. I was just curious

what was standard practice at other certified dairies, which I'm not. I

would like to start some private testing in the spring though just to

see how I'm doing.

Thanks,

Tammy K.

Proverbs Farm

Alvin TX

>

> Hi Tammy - not Debbie here but my understanding is that you want to

sample from actual sale milk in final containers because contamination

can happen at any number of places in the process.

[Guest guest]

If I am not mistaken, Texas raw for retail 10 coliforms standard is

based on sampling at the bulk tank, not at the bottle as the new Calif

standard demands.

Coliforms increase, sometimes exponentially, with time and handling,

as in the bottling process. Milk that would meet the 10 coliform

standard if applied at the bulk tank, as in Texas, would often fail

miserably under the new California standard.

Bob Hayles

Thornberry Village Homestead

Jasper, GA

-- In RawDairy , Albert Pereira wrote:

>

> Texas Raw for retail is 10 coliforms, dont know what

> the big deal is all about. You would think that

> producers and consumers would want it as low as

> posible. Seems as the dairys get larger quality

> control is harder to manage.

>

>

> --- debbie_at_rainhaven

> wrote:

>

> > I don't know what other Grade A retail raw dairies

> > in Washington state have

> > had for their counts, but my bottled milk has been

> > sampled almost every

> > month since I got my Grade A retail raw license

> > August 12, 2005, and

> > most of the time there was NO coliform count at all

> > found, and otherwise a

> > a high of 2, with one time a count of 10; my total

> > bacteria counts have all

> > been under 2,000 and usually under 1,000 with this

> > year frequently being

> > under 250. Anyone looking at my process can see it

> > is very simple and

> > uncomplicated.

> > http://www.rainhaven.com/dairy.html

> >

> > I wish this energy could have been put to asking

> > California lawmakers to

> > allow hand filling and hand capping of milk

> > containers, so that there could

> > be DOZENS of Grade A retail raw dairies in

> > California (and in ALL

> > states).... let's get some GOAT dairies licensed

> > down in CA!!

> >

> > Debbie Higgins

> > Rainhaven Grade A Raw Goat Microdairy

> > Duvall, WA

> > http://www.rainhaven.com/

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > >

> > > Raw milk consumers oppose new dairy standards set

> > to take effect next

> > > month in California that they say could outlaw

> > some of their preferred

> > > products.

> > > The new law doesn't create an outright ban on raw

> > milk, but producers

> > > believe it could dry up supplies by setting new

> > bacteria limits they say

> > > are difficult to meet.

> > (snip)

> > > State officials, on the other hand, say producers

> > should be able to meet

> > > the standards, which they maintain are necessary

> > for consumer safety.

> > > The new standard, part of AB1735, takes effect in

> > January, setting a

> > > limit of no more than 10 coliforms per milliliter.

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

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