The Michigan Fresh Unprocessed Whole Milk Workgroup

Purpose

The workgroup is addressing the question: “Where do we want to be in 3 to 5 years on access to fresh unprocessed whole milk?”

Goal

The group desires clear direction with clear public policy regarding access to fresh unprocessed whole milk and adjusting the law accordingly, if needed.

 Background

In November 2006, the question of access to raw milk came to a head in Michigan. The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) took legal action against a food coop for among other things distribution of unpasteurized milk products. Separately, Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS) and Michigan State University (MSU) met with the MDA leadership to talk about the action and how to address a desire among some Michigan consumers for access to raw milk and minimize health risks. These discussions led to a meeting with MDA and a group of dairy farmers and advocates for access to raw milk.

The number of core workgroup members was kept to a manageable number in order to ensure productive use of time. Workgroup members represent an array of perspectives, relative to the issue at hand and the group’s purpose: consumers who seek to ensure access to raw milk, producers who want to provide a healthy source of raw milk, a grade A milk industry representative and food safety regulators who are looking to balance access and choice issues with protection of the food supply. MIFFS and MSU serve as facilitators and resource providers to guide the dialog and deliberations of the workgroup.

As a result a workgroup was established in January 2007. The group agreed to address the question “Where do we want to be in 3 to 5 years on access to fresh unprocessed whole milk?”. The group agreed to use the term (fresh unprocessed whole) FUW milk to describe the product intended for direct human consumption since “raw milk” is used to describe milk intended for pasteurization.

The Michigan FUW Milk Workgroup has met to identify the issues and questions they have regarding access to FUW Milk. The Workgroup has reached consensus on the goal: “The group desires clear direction with clear public policy regarding access to fresh unprocessed whole milk and adjusting the law accordingly if needed.” Over 60 questions were initially identified by the Workgroup. These questions have been refined to 44 questions covering nine topic areas: History, Benefits and Values, Risks, Risk and Benefit Management, Liability, Benefit and Risk Choices, Current Government Roles, Government Policy Options Matrix and Consumer Choices Options.

Timeline

Since early 2007, the Workgroup usually meets monthly to discuss the topics and questions and share resources and expertise. With nine topic areas and a final group of questions, called “What’s Next?” to address as the results of the work on the nine topics, it is expected that the work will continue over the next 12-18 months.

Michigan Fresh Unprocessed Whole Milk Workgroup Participants

Topics and Questions

The Workgroup will progress through the Topics during upcoming meetings. We have identified resources and subject matter experts to call upon to help address the questions. Identified references and resources are provided under the link from each topic/question addressed. As Topics are discussed the group intends to prepare a Topic Summary. These will be posted as the group officially approves the Summaries.

This is a work in progress. As we move forward with discussing the questions and options we will seek opportunities for public involvement. This will be an iterative process with the intent of aiding understanding of the purpose: “Where do we want to be in 3 to 5 years on access to fresh unprocessed whole milk?”

We welcome feedback via email regarding the topics and questions, process, and other resources and expertise that will aid the discussion. Feedback will be sent to the Workgroup for consideration. If you believe there are topics missing from this Workgroup task, please suggest them by sending feedback to fuwmilk@gmail.com.