Wisconsin Ag Connection - Rep. Danou Proposes Bill to Allow Sales of Raw Milk

Wisconsin Ag News Headlines

Rep. Danou Proposes Bill to Allow Sales of Raw Milk
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 11/25/2009

The freshman legislator who was elected to replace the longtime Assembly Agriculture Committee member Barbara Gronemus of Whitehall says he would like to see raw milk sales become a legal right for dairy farmers. Rep. Chris Danou wrote an editorial to the state's agricultural media this week, where he said 'unpasteurized milk has been a staple of Wisconsin and American diets for many generations,' and says such products have been consumed for many years without negative health effects by the vast majority of these families.

"When it comes to your own personal consumption, who decides? Is it you or the Government?" Rep. Danou questioned. "Individuals should make their own personal consumption choices, not government entities."

Danou, a Trempealeau Democrat, also sits on the Assembly ag panel. He said he spent a lot of time discussing the issue with other legislators, staff, lobbyists and constituents and feels that if the government allows for the sale of raw eggs, beef and poultry, that raw milk should not be treated any differently.

As a result, he's proposng a bill that would require a Grade-A permit which provides current state guidelines to oversee the sanitary handling and storage of raw milk.

"Consumers will be able to buy local, developing a trusting relationship with the farmer, which will ultimately strengthen the safety factor," he said in the editorial. "This bill will also provide for a raw milk permit which can be used to keep the government regulations designed for large national corporate food processors and handlers from being applied to and becoming excessively burdensome to the local farmers who operate on a much smaller scale and stay local."

Lastly, the measure would provide some level of protection for the farmer from individuals who may be opportunists and try to take advantage of the current misconceptions regarding the safety of raw milk.

The issue has become a hot topic this fall after about two-dozen citizens spent nearly two hours during the Department of Agriculture's monthly board meeting this month commenting on their thoughts about selling raw milk to the public. Many of those people felt the state law, which prohibits such sales, was unfair and should be changed.

Also, a newly formed group called the Wisconsin Independent Consumers and Farmers Association is scheduling a public forum on the issue on December 12 in Green Lake County.

Rep. Danou said he's currently working with Senator Pat Kreitlow in drafting the bill.