I feel like such an outlaw!
The lengths that the government will go to sometimes is amazing. In the photo above, you can see that I have both some imported Kerrygold butter and some Raw Milk. Because I live in Arkansas, I am permitted to have such things…
In Wisconsin, though, it would be a different story…
RAW MILK
Technically, the retail sale of Raw Milk is currently illegal in both states, but they do allow for other sale of Raw Milk. In Arkansas, it can be “sold directly from farms producing up to 500 gallons per month, with labelling and state inspection.” Wisconsin “allows incidental sales to consumer at farm where produced,” but WI St 97.24 requires that “milk sold to consumers be Grade A” and requires that “Grade A products be effectively pasteurized.”
Having lived in both states in recent years, I can testify that Raw Milk is Wisconsin is often accompanied with a lot of fear, and I may have only been able to taste it a time or two there. I know that we were looking for a supplier while we still lived up there, but time and time again, the best that we could find was being offered to come over for a drink, but not allowed to leave with any or purchase any.
Effectively, it is basically illegal up there and I cannot verify the “incidental sales to consumer at farm where produced.”
Here is Arkansas though, we have multiple sources for Raw Milk nearby where we live, and although we plan on getting a dairy goat soon -thanks @smailer and @exploretraveler-, we don’t need to buy the cow just to get the milk! You gotta love that non-homogenized milk with the real cream at the top!
Though some claim that homogenization is one of the worse things that you can do to milk, sadly, across the US, SWAT Teams have even resorted to raiding farms from Pennsylvania to California in search of that precious Raw Milk. I understand the potential health risks, but, then again doesn’t every pill on the market that doctors freely offer patients have potential health risks as well?
Also, when you take into consideration the claims of the Weston A. Price Foundation (www.realmilk.com) it almost appears like some sort of conspiracy is afoot. Personally, I think that being allowed to choose whether or not to drink raw milk should be the choice of the people, and not the government.
KERRYGOLD BUTTER
Since butter sold in Wisconsin must be graded for taste, texture and color, Kerrygold butter has been made illegal in Wisconsin. Many people are starting to understand the benefits of having products from grass-fed, pasture raised cows over the more common big-business agriculture methods, and that has led to a recent rise in interest of such products as Kerrygold Butter, which comes from Ireland.
Thankfully, there is at least one lawsuit filed against this law in Wisconsin right now. Like in many other states, we are free to purchase it here in Arkansas, and many citizens of Wisconsin even travel to neighboring states to buy it.
To those who again consider the potential health benefits of having access to grass-fed, pasture raised cows being the source of such butter, it seems strange that the government would take such interest in preventing its citizens from enjoying this wonderful imported butter.
Most likely the dairy industry and its lobbyists in Wisconsin are partially behind these regulations, but that’s just my speculation.
PAPA’S THOUGHTS
It may indeed be a sad day and age when people are being prevented from having access to such food. For us, the benefits of eating less refined and more natural foods is a key component of a healthy life. For all of the wonderful steps forward mankind may have made when it comes to understanding heath and diet, we sure seem to be a bunch of overweight, disease-ridden folks some days, and, most likely, this will only get worse.
We try to “live like our lives depend on it,” and that certainly includes what we put inside our bodies. I just find it strange that after being forbidden to indulge in such things for so long, I almost feel like a guilty outlaw for exercising my freedom now. I’m sure that will wear off, but it goes to show how much control we have really allowed the government to have, and that often money is put ahead of people, which is why we have lobbyists in the first place, right, to make sure that happens?
Anyway, these photos were taken in Arkansas, there is no need to arrest or SWAT Team me!
As always, I’m @papa-pepper and here’s the proof:
proof-of-legal-raw-milk-and-kerrygold-butter
STEEMIT LIKE YOU MEAN IT!
