The Weston Price Foundation responded with this important action warning.
On June 6, the FDA sent a letter to all state public health and agricultural agencies advising them “that they should work collaboratively to address emerging developments related to the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N1 (HPAI H5N1) in dairy cattle.”
“I admit it, but. . . “It is currently unknown whether the HPAI H5N1 virus can be transmitted to humans through consumption of raw milk and products made from raw milk from infected cows.” The agency encourages health and agriculture departments “to disseminate health messages to the public.” “Risks of Consumption of Raw Milk and Raw Milk Products” and “(i) Implement a surveillance testing program in the State to determine the presence of the HPAI H5N1 virus in dairy cattle that may be involved in the production of raw milk for sale within the State; FDA and USDA provide “technical assistance” with sampling and testing.
Their motivation is clearly stated: “States that allow the sale of raw milk within their states should utilize their regulators or take other appropriate action to stop the sale of raw milk that may pose a risk to consumers.”
From this note, we can assume that milk farmers will be receiving visits from officials who will try to test their milk for non-existent viruses using fake testing methods, just like they did with their flocks of chickens.
Fortunately, some poultry farms avoid these inspections and prevent animal slaughter by requiring inspectors to complete two questionnaires.
- Inspector Information Form (below) to obtain names and contact information of people visiting the farm.
- Questionnaire for examiners (below) asking for evidence of successful isolation of the avian flu virus, evidence of transmissibility of the avian flu virus, type of test to be used, and contact information for the laboratory that will perform the test.
Obviously, no inspector can provide the information requested on the form, information to which the farmer is entitled. The hope is that they, like astute chicken farmers, will leave and never return.
Action to Take: Share this form with your raw milk producer. We hope these actions will prevent the FDA's planned closure of raw milk farms.
sincerely,
Sally Fallon Morell, President
Weston A. Price Foundation
