SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- Dairy owner Mark McAfee started selling raw milk in 2000, marketing it to customers who believe it contains beneficial microbes that treat everything from asthma to autism. Unpasteurized or "raw" milk is dangerous, U.S. health officials say.The unpasteurized milk swiftly caught on as part of the growing natural food movement. But the Food and Drug Administration considers McAfee a snake oil salesman and recently launched an investigation into whether his dairy illegally shipped raw milk across state lines. The agency even tried to recruit one of his employees to secretly record conversations with him. The case against McAfee is part of a crackdown on raw milk by government health officials who are concerned about the spread of food-borne illnesses. Lawmakers and law enforcement agencies are stepping up efforts to keep unpasteurized milk out of reach, even as demand for the niche product grows. McAfee, who was among the first in California to sell raw milk on a large scale, brushed off the investigation.Twenty-two U.S. states prohibit sales of raw milk for human consumption, and the rest allow it within their borders. The FDA bans cross-border sales.In Pennsylvania, local officials recently busted two dairies unlawfully selling milk straight from the cow.And in Maryland, health officials issued an emergency ban late last year on "cow-sharing" agreements, claiming they were aimed at skirting a ban on raw milk sales."Raw milk should not be consumed by anyone for any reason," said John Sheehan, head of the FDA's dairy office. "It is an inherently dangerous product." [apparently tomatoes are too] But shutting down sales is tricky because the federal government has largely let states regulate the raw milk industry. The result is a hodgepodge of laws that confuse consumers, dairy farmers and regulators alike.McAfee said he expects the FDA's criminal probe to be dropped without charges in a deal that will require him to guarantee his interstate shipments are for use only as pet food. The FDA declined to comment. Raw milk proponents insist they are under siege by state and federal regulators intent on snuffing out the industry.The popularity of raw milk is fueled by consumers' concerns about the chemicals and hormones [and introduction of bad bacteria into an ideal medium] used in traditional dairy farming, and a growing interest in unprocessed, organic foods. Devotees of raw milk ascribe to it almost mythical healing powers. They feed it to babies, believing it strengthens the immune system and staves off digestive troubles. The heat used in pasteurization, they say, kills healthy natural proteins and enzymes. [it kills ALL the bacteria, even the beneficial ones, leaving the milk susceptible to invasion by bad bacteria like E Coli or salmonella which is introduced by filthy cow lots, unsanitary bulk tank systems, milking equipment, staples in milk cartons, pooled milk from many animals and many farms ...and human hands]"It's a magic food," said Sally Fallon, president of the Weston A. Price Foundation, a nonprofit that advocates consumption of natural foods.The FDA insists pasteurization destroys harmful bacteria without significantly changing milk's nutritional value. The process also extends its shelf life.Nevertheless, some consumers have formed cooperatives to support dairy farmers who offer raw milk. They also join "cow-sharing" programs in which farmers take care of cows that are "leased" by consumers.Food safety officials say raw milk has sickened hundreds of people with salmonella, E. coli and other bacteria. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1,000 people fell ill from raw milk between 1998 and 2005. Two died.The FDA ban on cross-border sales of raw milk led to its criminal investigation of Organic Pastures, a Fresno dairy owned by McAfee that is California's largest raw milk supplier.The agency ordered two of McAfee's employees to testify before a grand jury and offered to pay one of them to surreptitiously record her conversations with McAfee, according to the worker."The main issue was selling our products outside the state of California," said dairy worker Amanda Hall, who refused to wear the wire. The two workers' grand jury appearances were canceled last month.Even if McAfee avoids criminal charges, he still faces lawsuits filed by the families of five children who claim his raw milk made them seriously ill.He denies the allegations and said testing at his dairy did not detect the strain of E. coli that sickened some of the children.McAfee also is challenging a new California law requiring lower bacteria levels in raw milk. He fears the change will put him out of business. A judge in San Benito County last month ruled for the state, but McAfee appealed the decision on Thursday. Also, a state senator plans to introduce a bill to repeal the law.Whole Foods Co. lobbied for a law that ensure raw milk dairies can stay in business."It is a growing piece of our business," said Walter Robb, the company's co-president. "We want to protect consumer choice."He and other raw milk proponents argue that the FDA should spend its time working on other agricultural practices that jeopardize food safety, such as the way large farms confine animals.But parents like Melissa Herzog strongly disagree.Herzog, whose 10-year-old daughter spent two months in the hospital after her kidneys failed because of E. coli poisoning, is one of the families suing Organic Pastures over the 2006 outbreak that health officials determined was probably [but never detected at the dairy where the milk came from, despite testing ] caused by raw milk from the dairy."I don't have anything good to say about raw milk," she said. "It was a horrible experience." E Coli is the enemy here, not the milk... a bacteria which is present is every human gut... and often difficult to treat due to antibiotic resistance. It is not naturally present in raw milk and would be introduced after milking.

The point here is that SANITATION is key. CLEAN buckets, CLEAN hands (especially), CLEAN udder, CLEAN containers, RAPID cooling and preservation. The best part of producing your own milk is that you never have to drink anything that is over 12 hours old either, even though it remains good in the refrigerator for much longer.

I have put together some special offers this month to celebrate Independence Day:

JULY RABBIT SPECIALS  If you are like me, you live pretty much hand to mouth... paycheck to paycheck. A successful month is a month in which you manage to make all your expenses.  Additional income to the budget is always welcome .  The rabbits have provided that extra income for me for years. Not just in livestock sales, but in the wool that they produce.  It is easily accumulated. Easy to sell on ebay and easy to mail.  They can be raised by literally anyone with the space for a few cages.... even in the city (don't forget to save that wonderful manure for your Victory Garden!).  They don't eat much and require only minutes a day of your time. Ah, if only the goats were so easy....  Check out the rabbit page for my July Rabbit Specials!  This is a great opportunity to get started with high quality stock for yourself or perhaps for a 4-H youngster. Show season is coming up!

JULY GOAT SPECIALS   On offer this month are a few special offers on groupings of meat goats, dairy goats and fiber goats!   See the goat page for details

JULY SHEEP SPECIALS  Time to start thinking about the right ram to use on your herd and I have some great choices for you: yearlings or better... ready to WORK!  Also on offer this month:  a trio of sheep that would the perfect starter flock!  See the sheep page for details!

Lamb Feed Products Recalled
    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the expansion of a voluntary recall of Lake Country- and Land O'Lakes-brand lamb feed.
    The FDA said the Land O'Lakes Purina Feed plant in Fremont, Neb., has expanded the recall to two more of its lamb feed products packed in 50 lb. bags. The feed might contain higher than acceptable levels of copper, posing a health risk to lambs.
    The original recall included Lake Country Honor Show Lamb Grower DX Pellets and Lake Country Honor Show Lamb Starter DX Pellets. It has been expanded to also include Lake Country Honor Show Lamb Grower B30 pellets and Land O'Lakes Lamb Grower-finisher B30.
    The recalled products have lot numbers ranging from Jan. 1, 2008, to May 30, 2008. The numbers -- printed as "8JAN01FRE1" and "8MAY30FRE1" -- are formatted as follows: 8MAY30FRE1 is 8=Year / MAY= Month / 30=Day of Month / FRE1=Plant Code.
    Honor Lamb Show Grower DX Pellets and Honor Lamb Show Grower Starter DX Pellets were distributed in Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Minnesota and Iowa. Honor Show Lamb Grower B30 Pellets and Lamb Grower-Finisher B30 were distributed in Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa.
    The company said the recalled products should not be stored or used. Customers with questions can contact the company at 877-585-2365.

 Sheep Poo Paper - at last ... a laugh!
 A company in Wales, Creative Paper Wales, has developed Poo-Pouri air fresheners, and other paper products made from sheep manure. The locally obtained raw product is boiled and separated into undigested cellulose and liquid fertilizer... then  they beat the cellulose to a pulp and add other fibers to make a unique paper product using traditional paper making techniques. The finished paper is fragranced with the scent of daffodils and/or  fresh cut grass. Do visit their website for a description of the process and refreshing tongue in cheek commentary  www.sheeppoopaper.com   I loved their website! Hilarious.