Wisconsin Ag Connection - Group Suing to Change Wisconsin's 'Inspected Butter' Statute

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Group Suing to Change Wisconsin's 'Inspected Butter' Statute
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 03/20/2017

A state law that requires all butter sold in Wisconsin to be tested and graded by state-approved inspectors is being challenged in court. Last week, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty filed a lawsuit in Ozaukee County, claiming the six-decade old statute is 'unconstitutional' and deprives consumers of their rights to buy certain products.

The move was prompted after the Irish-based Kerrygold butter was pulled off local store shelves in recent years because it is not inspected in the United States.

"Wisconsin's current protectionist law requires butter that is bought and sold to be labeled by the government," the advocacy group said in a media release. "This archaic labeling regime prevents very popular butter such as Kerrygold from being enjoyed by Wisconsin residents."

The law was created in 1953 as a way to protect Wisconsin dairy products from competing against other foods that were not made domestically.

As part of the current policy, anyone convicted of selling unlabeled or ungraded butter could face fines of up to $1,000 and spend six months in jail.

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