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The menace of moo-shine - Saving America from raw milk
The Economist ^ | June 1, 2013

Posted on 06/23/2013 8:03:38 AM PDT by rickmichaels

DAIRY is a way of life in Wisconsin. Milk is the official state beverage. Locals proudly refer to themselves as “cheeseheads”. Hats in the shape of slices of Swiss are popular. A heart-stopping treat called “fried curds” is a staple bar snack. Local licence-plates read “America’s Dairyland”. All of which perhaps explains why the state authorities took the conduct of Vernon Hershberger so seriously.

Mr Hershberger runs a traditional dairy with 40 cows. State law prohibits selling milk to the public without pasteurising it first. But Mr Hershberger tried to get around this stricture by setting up a “club” which provided raw milk (also known as “moo-shine”) to its members—until state food inspectors raided his farm, destroyed the milk they found and put him on trial.

Members of the ARMi (Alliance for Raw Milk internationale) and other “food freedom” activists flocked to the courthouse, brandishing placards declaring, “My milk My body My choice” and “Land of the free? Tell my cow”, among other slogans. They likened Mr Hershberger to Rosa Parks, a celebrated civil-rights activist, and demanded the freedom to eat (and drink) whatever they like. The jury was sympathetic: on May 25th Mr Hershberger was acquitted of operating without the proper licences, although he was found guilty of moving food the authorities had ordered him to keep as evidence after the raid.

Mr Hershberger is not the only crusader for raw milk, and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture not the movement’s only foe. The federal government prohibits moving the stuff across state lines, although it has no power to regulate it within state boundaries. The Food and Drug Administration’s website explains that unpasteurised dairy products are more likely to make those who consume them sick than pasteurised ones. It adds that moo-shine’s purported health benefits are unsubstantiated.

Raw-milk activists are not cowed. Their kind of milk is much tastier than the processed muck, they say. In some of the 20 states that ban its sale, they operate “herdshares”. A farmer sells stakes (not steaks) in cows that he tends. He then gives raw milk to shareholders, and charges a maintenance fee. If not the land of the free, America is certainly the land of the ingenious lawyer.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: milk; rawmilk
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1 posted on 06/23/2013 8:03:38 AM PDT by rickmichaels
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To: rickmichaels

“Raw-milk activists are not cowed.”


2 posted on 06/23/2013 8:17:56 AM PDT by babble-on
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To: rickmichaels

unpasteurised dairy products are more likely to make those who consume them sick than pasteurised ones

For as long as the government looks the other way as children are taught homosexual sex is as safe as heterosexual sex, they have no business forcing pasteurized milk on people who prefer unpasteurized for fear of making them "sick".

3 posted on 06/23/2013 8:24:38 AM PDT by so_real ( "The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools.")
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To: rickmichaels

So my daughters can get Plan B and abortions without my consent, but I can’t purchase and serve them raw milk. We’re from the government and we’re here to help!


4 posted on 06/23/2013 8:27:43 AM PDT by goodwithagun (My gun has killed fewer people than Ted Kennedy's car.)
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To: rickmichaels
RAW MILK! Yummy!


5 posted on 06/23/2013 8:33:18 AM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar (Sometimes you need 7+ more ammo. LOTS MORE.)
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To: rickmichaels

Wish my gubmint would stop trying to save me in the name of big ag.

I prefer whole milk, pasturized and not homogenized be


6 posted on 06/23/2013 8:41:42 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously, you won't live through it anyway)
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To: rickmichaels

Raised on a farm. Right before supper had to run down to the bulk tank and scoop out a pitcher of milk. In all my days, I was never sick from drinking it.


7 posted on 06/23/2013 8:41:56 AM PDT by Thorliveshere (Tais deau sá taghdedaul!)
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To: rickmichaels

I switched to Coconut Milk. Reduces crepitation! Tastes great too.


8 posted on 06/23/2013 8:43:02 AM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ( Ya can't pick up a turd by the clean end!)
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To: rickmichaels

Just think of all those poor people that died before the government helped control milk! /s


9 posted on 06/23/2013 8:44:12 AM PDT by DJ MacWoW (My faith and politics cannot be separated)
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To: so_real

I encourage you to consume as many unpasteurized products as possible. Then get back to me on how that worked out.


10 posted on 06/23/2013 8:45:10 AM PDT by Kirkwood (Zombie Hunter)
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To: rickmichaels

Whatever happened to the Demonrat slogan of ‘’my body and my right to choose’’? Maniacal, selfrighteous, hypocritical, nannystate, controlling thugs know better than anyone else what is best for you.
Step out of line and choose for yourself, they will do whatever they can to crush you.


11 posted on 06/23/2013 8:45:59 AM PDT by Thumper1960 (A modern so-called "Conservative" is a shadow of a wisp of a vertebrate human being.)
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To: Kirkwood

Hey. None of your f****** business. Why don’t you go lecture a two year old.


12 posted on 06/23/2013 8:49:16 AM PDT by DManA
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To: Kirkwood

The lack of exposure to dirt, germs, assorted molds and pollens and sterilizing everything and anything has led to more harm from allergies and depressed immunity than judicious use of the wonders of medical science and historical antibiotics.
Our bubble world is killing us.


13 posted on 06/23/2013 8:49:37 AM PDT by Thumper1960 (A modern so-called "Conservative" is a shadow of a wisp of a vertebrate human being.)
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To: Thumper1960

This dogooder attitude of Mr. Peckwood is what’s killing us.


14 posted on 06/23/2013 8:55:26 AM PDT by DManA
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To: rickmichaels

The only “choice” that Progressives/Socialists/Communists believe in is abortion, and they would prefer that was mandatory too.


15 posted on 06/23/2013 8:57:49 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Religious faith in government is far crazier than religious faith in God.)
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To: rickmichaels

That’s what we need, more food poisoning.


16 posted on 06/23/2013 8:59:55 AM PDT by Toddsterpatriot (Math is hard. Harder if you're stupid.)
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To: Kirkwood
I encourage you to consume as many unpasteurized products as possible. Then get back to me on how that worked out.

If the the crony-capitalists of the big-government/big-corporate criminal complex don't want you bypassing them for your dairy products, they will not be bypassed.

Capische?

17 posted on 06/23/2013 9:00:42 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Religious faith in government is far crazier than religious faith in God.)
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To: rickmichaels

I like the stuff. I’ve had far less acid reflux issues since I started drinking it.


18 posted on 06/23/2013 9:03:51 AM PDT by tbpiper
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To: rickmichaels; SheLion; Eric Blair 2084; -YYZ-; 31R1O; 383rr; AFreeBird; AGreatPer; Alamo-Girl; ...

Moo-shine Nanny State PING!


19 posted on 06/23/2013 9:04:50 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Drag Me From Hell!)
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To: Toddsterpatriot
That’s what we need, more food poisoning.

Great, then you'll love this:

EPA about to raise allowable concentrations of glyphosate (Roundup) on food crops...

The EPA’s decision is all the more unjustifiable in light of two recently published, peer reviewed studies revealing glyphosate to be a far greater threat to human health than previously determined.

According to a study published in the journal Entropy in April 2013, glyphosate is related to debilitating diseases like gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, autism, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. The study says the negative impact on the human body is “insidious and manifests slowly over time, as inflammation damages cellular systems throughout the body… it may in fact be the most biologically disruptive chemical in our environment.”

20 posted on 06/23/2013 9:12:43 AM PDT by tbpiper
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