Proving that de facto corporate control of community foodways using the government as its hired thug is not just the purview of North America, Ireland has moved to ban all raw milk sales by the end of 2011.
This shocking development appears to be in response to an enormous and rapid surge in the sales of unpasteurized dairy since late 2010 when Irish dairy farmers realized the full implication of a 2007 European Union directive that actually superceded an Irish ban on raw milk sales by the Department of Agricultural Fisheries and Food (DAFF) in 1996.
One farmer told the Irish Times that his raw milk sales this past summer went from zero to 400 liters (about 100 gallons) per week in nothing flat.
The surge in raw milk sales in recent months has not brought any increases in food borne illness or disease, leaving one to ponder why the Irish government is moving so strongly to outlaw raw milk with one fell swoop.
As described so eloquently by William Campbell Douglass MD, the reasons are really not that difficult to grasp:
“Pasteurization is the hammer that industry uses to nail down control of everyone’s milk money.
Without pasteurization laws, farmers can sell direct to consumers and earn a good living. With those laws in place, however, most farmers have no choice but to sell their milk to Big Dairy operations for pennies on the dollar.”
Dr. Douglass MD goes on to say:
” … responsibly produced raw milk is not the risky cocktail you’ve been led to believe. In fact, bans like this one aren’t about safety at all — and they never are.
Farmers aren’t the only ones getting the shaft here — consumers also lose big, because pasteurization kills everything in milk worth having: powerful natural probiotics and healthy dairy proteins as well as key vitamins and minerals.”
The new ban planned to go into effect by year’s end was proposed by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and is to be enacted as statutory law on behalf of the DAFF by the Department of Health.
I find it curious that the Irish ban on raw milk sales coincides with changes to the lineup of grassfed butter produced in Ireland by Kerry Gold. Not only is the new “full fat” Kerry Gold tub butter that is being marketed as “more spreadable” than the traditional brick butter not nearly as yellow indicating poorer quality butterfat that is lower in nutrition, but the addition of the new reduced fat butter ominously indicates a more profitability based product line such as what would be promoted by the monopoly controlled Dairy industry in the United States.
It seems that Big Dairy has landed on the Emerald Isle in full force with the political and financial goal to control every drop of quality dairy produced by this primarily grassfeeding nation where cows graze on lush grass for most of the year.
Clearly, marketing control of the grassbased dairy produced in Ireland is a moneymaking opportunity with far too much profit potential for Big Dairy to pass up. Using the government to secure corporate control of the market by banning raw milk sales under the guise of improving public health is the crucial first step.
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Sources: Banning Raw Milk Letter published in the Irish Times
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{ 67 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh, my goodness! Why??? Why do they have to do this? Are people really all this greedy and power-hungry?
The attempt at complete corporate control of what people eat reminds me of the nobility’s control of the salt routes in medieval times. Same deal, different era.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: Ireland Moves to Ban Skyrocketing Raw Milk Sales
yes they are that greedy. the answer to this is to boycott all pasteurized dairy all over Ireland, refuse to buy it…let the farmers GIVE the milk away, and accept donations instead of outright sales. start a black market for it. lots of options, sell everyone their own cows…this is something that cannot be done w/out the participation of the citizens…so just say no, buy powdered milk or stick w/raw ….time for civil [or fascist[ disobedience. say no to those who would starve you of nutrients for money in their pocket, cause that is what its about. they’re trying to kill us all from the bottom up, make us fat, but in a state of malnutrition, time to start suing and boycotting folks…
Every time we go to the grocery we feed the monsters. It could be Big Agra, Big Food, Big Pharma and Big Gov. Every time we consume faux food from the grocery store we lose some of our health, our prosperity and our freedom. The monsters get stronger, we get weaker. The bitter truth is that we did it to ourselves.
Ciao, Pavil
Well said! Dollar votes are the most powerful.
I agree. That’s why I don’t buy food at the grocery store anymore, or use medicine from Big Pharma, etc… Vote with your dollars.
Andy\’s last post: Daily Deals 11/8 – Back to the Future Trilogy, 3D Blu-ray’s, Poirot, and more
Ireland Moves to Ban Skyrocketing Raw Milk Sales — The Healthy Home Economist http://t.co/jjSSGHzB
http://t.co/Ndi8cv5y who wants your milk money?
and its not because they are worried about people health , they are only worried about their pockets
It makes me want to get a goat and a few chickens and go live in a remote area where nobody can find me. Sheesh.
Lol and a cow and a pig and lots of chickens in the middle of no where! I’d do it too!!
Meagan\’s last post: Raw Milk Eggnog, no HFCS!
We are doing just that. We bought 4 acres and my husband has to drive farther to work, more gas money, But we spend a lot less on food. We have pigs, a calf, chickens for both meat and eggs and turkeys. We are thinking of getting a milk cow. It is just my husband and myself now sowhat to do with that much milk? We could feed the extra to chickens and pigs. We are becoming increasingly fearful of anything we have to buy to eat that we didn’t grow ourselves. It is a lot of work but it is healthy excercise. good blessings to all of you in your endeavers to be healthy.
I say instead of banning the raw milk, ban the govt. ban the rich. band greed.
The dairy industry here is big business! It also coincides with the poor breastfeeding rates and the groaning health system under pressure. In any case we Irish are a funny lot. Ban something and suddenly it becomes interesting! (We are beavering away doing our bit educating about the benefits of raw milk etc and I’d love to set up the Weston Price Chapter here as part of that.) Keep those blogs coming Sarah. I am a dedicated fan! If the Kerry group are reading your blogs you have a powerful momentum behind you!
I have complete faith that the Irish won’t take this one sitting down. You folks are a strong lot and will demand what is rightfully yours .. the choice to consume healthy food straight and fresh from the farm!
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: Ireland Moves to Ban Skyrocketing Raw Milk Sales
Hi Anne
Seen a couple of comments on here from you. Just found this blog last week & have been devouring it. I would love to set up a weston price chapter too & wonder if you are anywhere near me. I’m in Cork.
Hi Sarah, just a heads up the source link at the bottom of the article is incorrect “Source: Banning Raw Milk Letter published in the Irish Times” links to the Kerrygold butter article on your blog
Oops. Thanks for that. Will fix that now
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: Ireland Moves to Ban Skyrocketing Raw Milk Sales
Ireland Moves to Ban Skyrocketing Raw Milk Sales — The Healthy Home Economist http://t.co/5c2sNlNT
What can we do? Who should we write?
I think Ireland relies on an infusion of tourist dollars, so I wonder if threatening to not travel there would help if enough of us did it. Who do we write?
I’m assuming the Irish Department of Health since they are the ones pushing the statutory change.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: Ireland Moves to Ban Skyrocketing Raw Milk Sales
Hi Sarah
Bit late but it is actually Simon Covney the minister of agriculture pushing this.
That’s so sad, all about the pockets. People should have the right to eat and drink what they want.
Sarah, thanks for sharing. Just shared w/ my FB fans. Ouch this hurts. since I am half Irish. My father hails from there. It is such a beautiful place. It pains me so much to see the whole world moving to profit motived everything and big government. Won’t the people here wake up and stop this mess? What is it going to take? It’s like all of our brains have been hijacked. (Do you sense the despair in my voice?) Actually, I think our brains have been hijacked. And we are just standing by and watching it happen.
Adrienne @ Whole New Mom\’s last post: Traditional Tuesdays – Nutritious and Delicious! ~ November 8, 2011
Yes , what do we do here in the US if we can’t go to rally’s? Do I simply write my congressman? What do I ask for? Is there a “best” way to go about this?
Marie
We are next!!! This whole global one world order is happening one product and one company at a time. “We” the “people” must fight unceasingly for freedom or tyranny will supercede our US Constitution that is currently being watered down! Food and medicine is a sure fire way to take TOTAL control of a nation and it is happening right before our very eyes.
Elections do count; local and national. The sleeping giant needs to roar!!
Right on, Cindy! Crazy, isn’t it?
I think it’s time for Occupy Big Dairy and Big Ag! Ron Paul and Alex Jones are doing great with End the Fed, but something needs to be done about this total takeover of our food supply.
It’s our food, people! It’s a right of all free people to be able to have access to real, nourishing foods: untouched by industry! Isn’t that part of “and the pursuit of happiness”? Real food makes me happy, makes my body happy, my family happy and keeps our health happy.
Food is a basic necessity on this planet. Food Freedom is Freedom, plain and simple.
Wow, this really is shocking. I’m a 1/4 Irish and I attribute my love of raw dairy to those genes. This seems like such a affront to what made us who we are today. Sickening.
This is really depressing. I am also Irish (1/4), and I know how much I love my raw dairy. I really don’t want to be worrying about this kind of thing, but I do worry about it every time I read these things in the news.
Kendahl @ Our Nourishing Roots\’s last post: Smoked Salmon & Herb Cheese Pinwheels
what drives me bananas about this is how the anti-raw milk freedom propaganda is amping up – in the form of news articles about people getting sick on raw milk and it’s products. like the one recently in utah – a man had apparently been selling raw milk cheese for years that he home produced. cases of salmonella were traced back to his cheese. the picture on the front of the article was a horrendous, nasty bathtub-subtly IMPLYING THAT the cheese had been recklessly produced all these years in that tub – and sold for profit. no where in the article is the tub mentioned. and he did not responsibly source his milk from a grass fed farm.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705393897/Mr-Cheese-identified-in-connection-with-Salmonella-cases.html
i can’t find the original article with the bathtub picture – but i did find this.
http://barfblog.foodsafety.ksu.edu/blog/151264/11/11/03/mr-bathtub-cheese-sickens-hundreds-salmonella-utah
in all fairness, it does appear as if this guy was not on the up and up. he was not in relationship with his milk supplier – he was buying it on the side from an employee. but this is passed over quickly.
this is just one example i’ve seen recently that subtly puts the message out there that government sanctioned activity is the only activity one can trust. don’t trust the crazies selling food the old fashioned way. it’ll kill ya dead! hocus pocus!
Wisconsin was going to allow raw milk in a “test” but at the last minute the then governor changed his mind at the last minute.
horrible….
How utterly despicable! When will the rest of the world learn the the US has it all wrong when it comes to nutrition? Oh, that’s right! The governments don’t care about the people, they care about Money. And the US leads the world in screwing over it’s citizens to turn a profit. Big Pharma? Big Ag? Disgusting.
I just finished a huge glass of illegal Real raw milk with my two year old. It was wonderful!
I send illegal raw milk in my kid’s lunches….shhhhhh
These are not safety regulations, they are economic regulations, plain and simple.
EXACTLY. Well said!
How horrible! Then again Europe has always had the most tyrannical laws when it comes to natural medicine, supplements, and food. They stick corporate control under the guise of “consumer protection”, truly they want everyone dependent on toxic drugs and food.
Yep, we’re next so we need to care about this and act on it. Can we please start a letter/email/fax campaign to the decision makers there? Ireland, like the premier of Canada, needs to know the world is watching. I believe Ireland relies heavily on tourist dollars, so how about we threatening to have a NO TRAVEL TO IRELAND campaign until this decision is reversed.
Who do we write? What bloggers can help galvanize people to act?
What are the specifics–are they going to herdshares?
Makes me wonder sometimes……Ireland Moves to Ban Skyrocketing Raw Milk Sales — The Healthy Home Economist http://t.co/LaTsqhCh
Everytime I try to navigate your blog today I am receiving popups for a survey. This is the first time that this has occured.
I’m getting it too … I am reporting this to my blog hosting company to get this cleaned off. It’s malware.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: Ireland Moves to Ban Skyrocketing Raw Milk Sales
Looks like its fixed now.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: Ireland Moves to Ban Skyrocketing Raw Milk Sales
KerryGold butter is in big demand here in the USA, so you can imagine what the demand probably is on a world wide basis. They probably can’t keep up with the traditional grass-fed butter, so they had to make changes byselling out to a bigger company who is now cheap charlie-ing their products.
This should be heard by BigPfood as a cry from the public for good, wholesome food, but instead they see it as an opportunity to milk (pun intended) the cattle, the farmers and the public for a buck. It’s the same story as any other successful, in-demand food – and isn’t it sad?
We appreciate your support of Kerrygold and are happy you enjoy our products. I do want to correct a part of your statement: Kerrygold is a co-op of dairy farmers and creameries in Ireland who uphold the high quality production you enjoy. We have not been sold to a bigger company, nor has our structure changed in any way.
Molly O’Loughlin\’s last post: Steak Bites
Wow, you just totally made up a rumor D. How do you know they “probably” can’t keep up with demand, therefore leading to your wild conclusion of selling out to a bigger company for profit? It is not good or honorable to pass off speculation as fact.
This is depressing! I just returned from a shopping trip with a pound of Kerry Gold which I think is terrific butter only to read this! Supply and demand just kills this kind of food! I am so worried about our Organic Pastures Raw Milk here in California. The more they advertise, the more word gets out, the more we at our WAPF chapter recommend it, the more worried I am they won’t be able to keep up with the demand without compromises! Soooo, I will keep watching Kerry Gold to see what happens to their nice, golden grass fed butter and hope the good Irish people Occupy Dairy in their country!
I assure you, Mikki, that Kerrygold and our farmers are steadfastly committed to maintaining the highest production standards for our products. We continue to use the high quality milk that has always been delivered by our farmers.
Molly O’Loughlin\’s last post: Steak Bites
Well, you know peoples here in American can sue the government for treason right? People can use the law and constitutions to put the corporate goverment in its place: title 18 USC Section 241, 242; title 42 USC Section 1983, 2381, etc. Peoples here in American need to find the time and learn how to defend themselves – learn the law and how to use it in court and you will surely see a change. The problem is that people start depending on attorneys (court officials) for help and they don’t realize that by doing so they no longer have power in court. Why? Well, simple, you give your attorney power of attorney over you and gues what, you become a ‘ward’ of the court – period!
God bless!
That is very sad, too bad. I had some faith in Europeans being wiser about this, but I guess no nation is immune to greed.
Anastasia @ Eco-Babyz\’s last post: Minted Holiday Cards & Birth Announcements $100 Credit Rafflecopter Giveaway!
Friends @KerrygoldUSA do you have any insight into why Ireland’s banning raw milk sales? http://t.co/2OfdGRO4
Please contact the Ireland Department of Health (www.dohc.ie) regarding the reasons behind why Ireland looking at a ban on raw milk sales.
Molly O’Loughlin\’s last post: Salted Butter
just having a glass now
what is this ridiculous crack down on raw milk all about. if the “idiots” had been here 100 years ago they could have taken the whole world to court and jail for drinking and selling raw milk. !!!!!!!!!!!
Ireland Moves to Ban Skyrocketing Raw Milk Sales — The Healthy Home Economist http://t.co/CtwJ6Bab
The FDA is losing the fight here. The Irish equivalent will lose the fight there. The Irish have had a taste… once we have a taste, we never give up, lol!
Sally O’Boyle\’s last post: She Takes The Plunge
The good news is that no Western nation can financially survive much longer. With government nonsense like this, we should just start from scratch.
Makes me want to boycott Irish products. But why punish Irish farmers because they have a government that is just as stupid and corrupt as ours?
Stanley Fishman\’s last post: My Real Food Plate
It really bothers me that goverments world wide dictate what we can and cannot eat, I thought that at least here in the US it was a free country!
Kerrygold does not use raw milk, and has never used raw milk, in making the butter and cheese you enjoy. The farmers who own our dairy co-op provide raw milk that we pasteurize before turning it into butter and cheese. We use the same milk for all our products – the new spreadable or lower-fat butter, or the traditional butter and cheeses we have made for years. There is no difference except the reduced-fat butter has a lower percentage of fat. Consumers have been asking Kerrygold to provide a butter that is lower in fat so they can continue enjoying our high quality product.
So.Clusterbombs are fine with ya. RT @FarmFoodFreedom: http://t.co/UVNKUpez who wants your milk money?
I’m so glad you posted this Sarah. I was sat down reading your blog (which I only discovered last week & love), enjoying a cold glass of my soon to be illegal raw milk when I saw this post & it moved me that so many of your readers care.
At the moment, the ban has been delayed. I don’t know how long for as apparently the relevant govt. departments are being cagey & secretive about this ban since the beginning. They were hoping to get it through without alerting the public in any way but obviously this didn’t happen. The government are not open to public opinion on this subject & have flat out refused to allow the Irish public to vote on this matter. In doing this they have actually harmed themselves more than helped themselves. Tell us Irish we can’t have something & we will fight you for it regardless of whether we want it or not. Alot of people who can’t care less about raw milk have joined the anti-raw milk ban wagon purely based on the government not allowing us to decide for ourselves. The government claim the usual “danger to health” as their reason for banning raw milk sales. The truth of the matter is that the government pays 33 cent per litre to the farmers for their milk. Dairy farming is a livestyle choice for farmers in Ireland, not a career as farmers cannot make ends meet getting paid 33cent/litre. I pay slightly over double that price to my local raw cheese maker whose milk is tested 3 times a week. In recent months, I have heard of raw milk being sold for €4/litre. The government obviously want to stop this as they want control over the nation’s milk & are not willing to pay.
For updates look are http://www.rawmilkireland.com There is a lovely petition on the main page for signing. They are also on facebook.
There are disadvantages when you say that you wanted to buy raw fresh milk because first of all, they have not undergone the process of pasteurization which will eliminate the bacteria from the raw milk. If in the process of production of raw milk a person gets sick then it’s a liability of the person who bought it and the company or group of people who distributed it.
ralf@irish private number plates\’s last post: Hello world!
i am english and not loved by your nation but you have my unerring support for your plight under the government you have. the whole of irish freedom is being snatched from you and this issue over milk sales is just a small part of your immersion into a napolionic dictatorship.
the notion of codex alimentarius is fundamental breach of civil liberty which you have fought so hard to maintain. codex alimentarius is the biggest threat to your health.
there is a new famine to be thrust upon you as agriculture is forced into the hands of the globalists and irish people who, through no fault of their own, have fallen behind with their mortgage payments are to be restricted in the amount of money they are allowed to spend on food.
as has already been mentioned, your government are no more than lackie boot boys for the banks.
i see no support coming from the catholic or any other chuches so, i’m afraid, you are on your own and you need to organise a plan of non-cooperation.
I agree
So did the law pass?
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