Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,

On October 8, 2007 you signed AB 1735 which will effectively end commercial sales of raw dairy products in California. Before this month, you were a leader in raw milk legislation. That changed when you signed AB 1735.

My family has seen positive health benefits from raw milk. The coliform family of bacteria contains many beneficial bacteria strains, strains that build my familyÕs health. Those beneficial bacteria help protect us from pathogenic bacteria that may be in our environment. Pathogens are potentially anywhere, as you know. They travel on luggage and boots and linger on doorknobs. Dietary sources of beneficial bacteria are key to protection against pathogens like E. coli O157: H7.

My milk has a much more diverse population of beneficial bacteria of any probiotic on the market. Rather than paying a pharmaceutical company for those bacteria and also buying my milk at the market, I just buy my milk from Organic Pastures and have it shipped directly to me.

I appreciate your concern over pathogens in the California food supply, but science allows you to test for pathogenic bacteria directly if that is your concern. Please work to remove the new coliform requirement. I need my milk.

Sincerely,

Your Name