Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Health Law Blogs -> Food Safety News

Health Law

: Food Safety News

Wyoming Kills Attempt to Open Raw Milk Loophole

By Dan Flynn and Suzanna Schreck

Raw milk advocates were dealt a setback last week when the Wyoming House Agriculture Committee defeated a bill that would have made cow share schemes legal.
The vote was 6-3 against the bill, which would have expanded raw milk sales in the Cowboy State.
Earlier in the week, the House Ag Committee also killed the Wyoming Food Freedom Act, which would have exempted food produced in home kitchens from licensing and inspections.
The committee did unanimously recommend passage of the Wyoming Traditional Food Act, which exempts food prepared for weddings, funerals, potluck and charitable dinners and cook-offs from regulation.  
That bill was amended to say there was nothing in it to stop food safety agencies from providing help if they are asked for it.
The raw milk bill sought to allow consumers to purchase a share of a cow or a goat, paying the farmer-rancher for a percentage of the animals care, and in exchange gain the right to an equal percentage of the raw milk.
Raw milk sales are illegal in Wyoming.  
An interim committee that met before the current session began recommended the trio of bills the Ag Committee considered last week.
Rep. Sue Wallis, R-Recluse, has tried since she was first elected in 2007 to get the food freedom legislation passed. The Campbell County rancher did not respond to requests to speak with Food Safety News.

Full post as published by Food Safety News on January 24, 2011 (boomark / email).