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Final Call to Action for CA. Fresh Raw Milk

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THIS IS IT! One Final Call for SB 201 – The Fresh Raw Milk Act of 2008.

Your calls to the Governor's office needed now!

Thanks to our calls to key Senators last week, SB 201 passed out of the Senate on Saturday, August 30 with a 31-4 vote. This was a HUGE success, as there was unexpected last-minute political opposition.

Along with the unanimous bi-partisan support we had in the Assembly, SB 201 is now stronger than ever and we want the Governor to know that California's raw milk consumers are eager for him to sign it into law.

Due to the budget impasse, hundreds of other bills that are now delayed, and the complicated nature of politics, we will really need to come on strong to avoid a veto. Please contact Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's office at 916-445-2841 and follow the menus to voice your opinion.

Read additional press here>View the Weston A. Price Foundation's responses (scroll down to bottom of home page) to Bill Marler's opposition at: realmilk.com

Watch Informational Video on SB 201

Legislative Info on SB 201

More about SB 201 on wewantorganicgood.com

SB 201: Fresh Milk Act of 2008 - The Details

Senator Dean Florez said it best when he held hearings on Farm Fresh Milk in April of this year. He said we want "World Class Raw Milk for California." SB 201, sponsored by Senator Florez, Senator Perata and Assembly member Berryhill accomplishes just that.

SB 201 starts its abbreviated journey through the legislative process this week. With six hours of Senate hearings and testimony from experts from around the world, the Senate record on raw milk is strong. Because of the tremendous amount of work by Senator Dean Florez, Senator Don Perata, Assemblyman Mike Villines, Assemblywoman Parra, Assemblyman Tom Berryhill, Whole Foods President Walter Robb, Sally Fallon, Dr. Ron Hull, Dr. Ted Beals and many others, this world class Raw Milk bill has gathered broad political support.

SB 201 pioneers standards and regulatory protections that are the first in the nation, are holistic in addressing every critical process in the dairy, and provide greater protections for consumers than the standards currently in law. It promotes consumer choice in California by keeping raw milk available on store shelves, while at the same time increasing food safety protections to ensure that the raw milk sold in California is the safest in the nation.

For the first time in the United States, SB 201 mandates a HACCP (food safety) plan at California's raw milk dairies. This type of individualized food safety plan is presently utilized by food processors in other industries in California, and was deemed to be the best alternative to promote raw milk food safety by scientists at our recent hearing.

SB 201 provides for at least eight times more testing for E. Coli 0157:H7, standard plate count, and coliforms as each raw milk dairy is required to provide an independent lab product samples at least twice per week. There is presently no such requirement in California law. In the past, CDFA has performed simple tests that were used as indicators that harmful pathogens may be present. SB 201 instead requires the CDFA to test directly for the pathogens that cause illness in humans at least once per month. CDFA may take raw milk samples from any location deemed appropriate. Testing directly for pathogens provides a more accurate picture of what is contained in the final product.

Finally, this bill prohibits raw milk dairies from receiving milk from other dairies that do not meet these stringent requirements.

These innovative food safety measures, when taken in their entirety, provide multiple layers of protection to our consumers, ensuring that California continues to be the leader in raw milk food safety.