Nicole Parra, Chair

Committee on Agriculture

California State Assembly

21 N. Douty St., Suite B
Hanford, CA 93230

Dear Ms. Parra,

I understand that you played a key role in ending the sales of raw milk in California with AB 1735. Raw milk is a core part of my familyÕs diet. As you know from living in the dairy capital of California, milk can be a very healthy addition to the diet. My problem is that I cannot drink milk that has been pasteurized. By passing AB 1735, you have effectively reduced my diet choices by outlawing raw milk sales.

My family has seen positive health benefits from raw milk. I realize the concern over pathogenic bacteria in milk, but milk is also filled with beneficial bacteria. Our health benefits are likely related to those beneficial bacteria. Those beneficial bacteria help protect us from pathogenic bacteria that may be in our environment. Pathogens are potentially anywhere, as you know. Dietary sources of beneficial bacteria are key to protection against pathogens like E. coli O157: H7.

I could pay top dollar for probiotics from pharmaceutical companies or I could just drink it in my milk. My milk, by the way, has a much more diverse population of beneficial bacteria than any probiotic on the market.

Furthermore, if your concern is protecting consumers against pathogenic bacteria, I have a simple suggestion: write law that requires tests for pathogens. Of course, you have already written that legislation. Technology is advanced enough to allow you to test for pathogens directly. There is no scientific evidence to support a link between coliform and pathogenic bacteria. What we do know about coliforms is that they produce beneficial proteins.

Surely a resident of Tulare County, the dairy capital of the world, will not deny me access to my milk. It is time to seek input on AB 1735 and it is time to remove the new coliform requirement.

Sincerely,

Your Name