The right to choose – raw milk, have your say…

Many of you may already be aware of a campaign launched by Slow Food with regards to raw milk and raw milk cheeses, but just in  case you aren’t below is some information which will hopefully prompt you to action, or perhaps thought, that may eventually lead to action.

I would also emphasize, as Julie Shelton from Slow Food Sunshine Coast Hinterland does, that the campaign is NOT about the merits (or otherwise) of raw milk or raw milk cheese over pasteurised products.  It is about CHOICE – freedom to choose the foods we want.  If we can buy imported French raw cheeses, why can’t Australian producers make raw milk cheese and Australian consumers have the right to buy it from them?

This is the first serious campaign of Slow Food Australia and will be just one of the issues (GM foods is another) that puts Slow Food in the minds of politicians, bureaucrats and the public as a political organisation lobbying for change.

This is the story…

On Sunday 18 October 2009 Carlo Petrini launched the Raw Milk Cheese Campaign for Australia.

This issue is of vital importance to Slow Food Australia as it is our first national and public campaign based around the production of, and access to, good, clean and fair food. This campaign epitomises what Slow Food stands for – access to local, quality, artisan foods that are good, clean and fair.  As Slow Food members we must defend and extend this right to access and choice.

By mounting a successful campaign on this issue, we will be signalling that Slow Food Australia wants a seat at the table in all future debates on good, clean and fair food. This campaign is essential for Slow Food Australia’s recognition as a voice for the small, local, artisans of good clean and fair food.

Raw milk products are available throughout Europe, Canada, the United States, and shortly to be produced in New Zealand. Australian producers are prevented by archaic regulations from making raw milk products.

To this end we will be campaigning for:

– The opening of regulations to allow for the production and consumption of raw milk cheese and associated products in Australia
– Labelling laws that clearly identify products containing raw milk
– Testing procedures to ensure product safety that are affordable to small producers

On the Slow Food website is an online petition. We would like you to sign it, all your friends to sign it, and anyone who stands still long enough to sign it. The more signatures we amass, the greater our chances of success.

More information, a copy of In defence of Australian raw milk cheese, a media statement released today, and other links, can be found at:
http://slowfoodaustralia.com.au/projects/australia/raw-milk-cheese

This post was posted by Petra Frieser – Local Harvest, on behalf of Julie Shelton, Slow Food Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
To find out more about the Sunshine Coast’s regional growers and producers visit:
www.localharvest.com.au

Author: Local Harvest