I was just reading in this piece that Whole Foods has indefinitely ceased the sale of raw milk. I called their national headquarters to see if it was true, and it is; they’ve decided to cease all raw milk sales until there are “national standards” instead of state-by-state ones. I gave them my opinion on the matter, which is that I’m grateful to be living in a state where raw milk sales are legal and I have no interest in seeing that held back by a large company like Whole Foods, nor by waiting for change in the many other states where raw milk is not legal.
Whole Foods was the only carrier in Seattle proper of milk from Dungeness Valley Creamery, which I happen to really like. I’m a big fan of all the local raw milks (I count four available in Seattle), and because I like buying direct from the farmer or from smaller stores and co-ops anyway, it’s not the end of the world if I can’t get it from Whole Foods. Still, it was a nice treat sometimes and I disagree with their choice on principle because it limits some people’s access to raw milk and because waiting around for national standards is not going to benefit raw milk consumers. If you disagree too, you can call their headquarters at (512) 542-0878.
I also called and spoke with Debbie from Dungeness Valley Creamery. She confirmed that this had happened and that it has affected sales (the milk is still available outside Seattle and at a few drop points). She also confirmed what the initial article suggested, that the Department of Agriculture has been difficult for local raw milk producers. Earlier in the winter, a press release went out suggesting a link between DVC’s milk and E. coli bacteria, whereas E. coli was only found in an old cow patty in a pasture where some non-milking cows had been a few weeks before, and never in the milk. There’s a pretty good article on it here.
Considering what a loaded term E. coli is, and considering it was never found in their milk, and that it’s been found in vegetables that don’t become illegal to sell (spinach, tomatoes), the issuing of a press release feels like a targeted and intentional way to maintain a public fear of raw milk.
We’re lucky to live in a state where raw milk is readily available, even if, as a number of farmers have told me, it’s not easy to be a producer here. The Whole Foods situation is a reminder that we shouldn’t take what we have for granted, as is the current struggle in Wisconsin to legalize raw milk, where nearly 500 people showed up for a hearing recently on the subject.
To avoid getting complacent locally, continue supporting the local farms that sell raw milk. If you’d like to let the WA Department of Agriculture Food Safety program know how grateful you are to live in a state where raw milk is legal, or any other opinions on the subject, their number is 360.902.1876. It also never hurts to spend two minutes calling the helpful WA legislative hotline at 800.562.6000, where your opinion on anything relevant to the legislature can get recorded for your state representatives, senator and, if you’d like, the Governor. All you need to know is your address.
Thanks to upyourego for the flickr CC photo.
Just to let you know there is a certified organic raw milk creamery that is just starting out in eastern Washington. They just started delivering to the Seattle area via drop off groups. Check it out at prideandjoydairy.com
[…] all know there are a lot of politics around raw milk and raw milk products, and this farm makes (aged) cheeses from raw milk, following Washington State […]
[…] Arguing that Estrella’s “current inspection records … show that all cheeses have tested negative,” she writes that “the FDA decided to shut down the dairy on the claim that the cheese might have Listeria, with no burden of proof to demonstrate they do, or to acknowledge records that show this is no longer a problem.” In Gardner’s view, Estrella’s difficulties must partly stem from unfair U.S. politics and prejudices against the sale of raw-milk products. […]
There are 3 stores in Seattle selling Dungeness raw milk:
http://www.dungenessvalleycreamery.com/?page_id=64
Madison Market
1600 East Madison Street
Seattle, WA 98122
Phone: 206.329.1545
http://www.madisonmarket.com/
My Asia’s Essentials
4200 Ranier Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98118
Phone: 206.725.9198
myasiaessentials@gmail.com
Pike Place Market Creamery
86 Pike St
Seattle, WA 98101-2025
Phone: 206. 682.7181
Thanks, Erik! I’ll have to check out the second place; I’ve never been there. At the time of this post, or the most recent time I’d checked before posting it, Pike Place Creamery wasn’t selling raw milk. I noticed they changed since.
Yes, I bought some at Pike Place yesterday and also bought some at Madison Market last week. FYI, here’s another list for the St. John Creamery raw goat milk (check the web site for other locations outside Seattle):
http://stjohncreamery.com/stores.html
Ballard Sunday Farmers Market
5330 Ballard Ave NW
Seattle, WA
Every Sunday 10AM – 3PM
Look for a sign that says:
“Goat, the healthy red meat”
Bill the Butcher
Laurelhurst Shop
3600 NE 45th St
Seattle, WA 98105
Bill the Butcher
Madison Valley Shop
2911 East Madison St
Seattle, WA 98112
Madison Market
1600 E. Madison St.
Seattle, WA 98122
206-329-1545
Pike Place Market Creamery
In Pike Place Market
Seattle
206-622-5029
Madrona Farmers Market
Seattle
Friday Evenings, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., May 16 through Sep 26
I’m one of those drop points….very close to a Whole Foods (65th St). We just started a drop this month at my home in Ravenna (about 7 blocks from Whole Foods). email ravennamilk at gmail if you want to join up with us. Weekly delivery on Thursdays.
I might be interested in that!
Email me at ravennamilk at gmail and I’ll send you some info!
I emailed you!🙂
I saw it! And now I can’t find it. Can you resend? Thanks!!
OH haha, Drew emailed me (I’ll write you back this evening Drew, taking a quick break while making dinner right now). I’ll send you info too Deb. Or did you email me and I missed it? LOL! We’ll connect somehow.
Vegetables are needed to be washed so residues of pesticides and harm bacteria can be washed away. How exactly you do that with milk? Raw milk can harbor several germs that put in risk the health of your family! Salmonella, Listeria and E. coli are harmful bacteria especially for kids, pregnant women elderly, and people with compromise immune system. Some people can show no clinical signs but still can eliminate the bacteria and transmit it to other people that are more susceptible and thereafter get very sick. I believe that if very prominent scientist from universities , who have no special interest in politics of the dairy industry state that the consumption of raw milk is a food safety issue, they know what they are talking about.
What are the names of the “prominent scientists” you are referring to?
Although I realize the potential risks of raw milk and am slightly nervous about the idea myself, I think the farm raising and caring for their cattle in a clean and humane manner will produce generally safe milk.
I would like to believe all that the government states but I’m becoming less and less trusting of their true intent.
This page (http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/Product-SpecificInformation/MilkSafety/ConsumerInformationAboutMilkSafety/ucm247991.htm) from the FDA actually lists many of the purported claims along with their findings (and references). However, I am always leery if for no other reason, the sly verbiage used by “scientists”. I also question the idea that the that the scientists have “no special interest in…” because too often the scientists secretly DO have some sort of special interest, usually represented on their paycheck.
That said, I think if I do opt to try raw milk, I will most likely purchase it from Meadowwood in Enumclaw, if they are still open and available. They appear to have only a few cows (http://www.meadowwoodorganics.com/Facilities.html) and dedicate themselves to keeping their facilities sanitized and they state clearly that they clean the udder, then take a sample from each teat, then milk straight into sanitized jars. The cows are already grass-fed and free-roaming so how much cleaner does it have to be? Plus, they are licensed.
Has anyone tried their milk? Or know of a very good, very clean, reliable dairy or milk available from one? (As close to Kent as possible.)
I’m sorry but with repsect, you are absolutely incorrect, Hernan. Raw milk is no worse a medium for the above mentioned pathogens that is pasteurized milk, and in fact raw milk contains many good bacteria that actually *combat* these others if they are introduced… this is also true both in the bottle and in the stomach of the drinker. ALL pathogens are destroyed with pasteurization (good AND bad) but so are all the delicate enzymes present, not to mentioned the other unhealthy transformations that occur in the fat and protein makeup of the milk, in addition to the fact that if those harmful bacteria are introduced *later* there is nothing there to combat them post-pasteurization which is normally the case with sicknesses, since most contamination happens after (well after) milking. Further… the E.Coli bacteria you are referring to is E. Coli O157, which is extremely resistant to stomach acid environments which is why it makes us sick. It has developed in the gut of grain-fed commercial cow and is *not found* in grass fed organic farming practices. And *even* further, Listeria in general is much more resistant to heat and survives all but ultra pasteurization.
So please, research you prominent scientists findings before buying into this raw milk fear that is perpetuated merely to preserve the status-quo of the industrial dairy business.
If you are drinking good milk from properly pastured cows at reputable clean dairies, everything you mention above is something to fear from *NOT* drinking raw milk.
I found one shop in Everett but still looking for one in Lynnwood or Mukilteo…I’d love to sign up to be a drop point for our area if it’s untouched to help others get the milk🙂
For Hernan, could you please give us the exact names of the “prominent scientists” you are referring to and their contact information?
FYI, This store near Burien, SeaTac, Whitecenter, and Des Moines is now selling Raw Jersey Milk (Yay!!):
Boulevard Park Thriftway
12000 Des Moines Memorial Drive
Seattle, WA 98168