Amos Miller DENIED - “Give us salmonella or give us death!”
Injunction against raw milk sales upheld
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Is LA-based attorney Robert Barnes, representing Amish farmer Amos Miller, fundraising for scorched earth or La La Land?
After completely losing what they wanted at the hearing this past Thursday, Barnes made the bold claim that:
“The court correctly found no safety risk from any Amos Miller food.”
The judge’s ruling didn’t explicitly address the risk factor attributed to Miller’s farm. However, during the hearing, it became clear that in testing conducted by the PDA, they found a whopping 25% of Miller’s milk samples positive for listeria.1
This is entirely unacceptable.
“Raw Milk Mamas” do NOT want that!
Apparently some of Barnes and Miller’s minions or supporters do though. During the hearing at least one was heard chanting on the courthouse doorsteps, “Give us salmonella or give us death!” while others openly agreed.
If they are not careful, their wishes will come true and they will get BOTH!
Barnes went on to say that “the court correctly pulled back on the scope of the injunction so that it only prohibits marketing and sale of raw milk products and exempts family and noncommercial use.”
What Barnes, Miller and all their minions and unsuspecting supporters were hoping for was for the court to release the injunction prohibiting Miller from selling his products–including his listeria-infested milk–all across the country as he had been doing.
That Miller can now feed listeria-loaded milk to his family is not a bragging point.
Barnes then goes on the attack against PA secretary of Agriculture, Russel Redding “for violating” the Constitutional rights of Miller’s nationwide network of customers.
Barnes states that “Secretary Redding has anointed himself the Pope of food for the entire country: if he doesn’t bless your food, you’re not allowed to eat it or even possess it.”
Barnes clearly has no idea what he’s talking about. He’s out of his lane and out of his league.
Barnes appears to be fomenting anger and aggression towards Secretary Redding who is known and deeply respected throughout PA–indeed the whole country–for his fairness and unwavering support of farmers. Barnes’ allegations towards Secretary Redding are indicative of his own ignorance of the strong and lasting bipartisan support and loyalty–from legislators, farmers, and consumers alike–that Secretary Redding has earned.
Just because there are nests of rabid Amish farmers and well intentioned yet ill informed consumers hissing at and attacking the PDA secretary and agents who simply will not stand for listeria and e coli milk being shipped out all over the country, it does not turn Redding into a villain against the constitution.
With or without Barnes and Miller and their shenanigans, Redding–and the raw milk mamas–will continue to support honest transparent PA farmers and showcase what is possible in the beautiful agricultural state of Pennsylvania.
Standing side by side, we will turn all the manure Barnes slings at us into healthy soil.
By all appearances, it seems like Barnes is intentionally trying to suck the energy, momentum, and financial resources away from those who are working to grow PA into the #1 organic-food-producing and small-farmer-supporting state in the country. Why?!
Could that possibly be because Barnes is the raw milk rube, duping honest people who feel they need the health benefits of certain hard to get foods and who will go to great lengths to acquire them?
Furthermore, Barnes just went on the attack against–likely–the most raw milk friendly state (and ag department) in the country after blatantly attacking the raw milk mamas who have worked for decades to make serious, lasting changes.
The BEST thing Barnes can do immediately to improve food freedom in America is to sit down and hush up before he makes it far worse than it’s ever been.
Barnes, now becoming ever famous for his exaggerations and outlandish claims regarding Infamous Amos, continues making sensational claims even in the face of inevitable defeat.
For sure, this sensationalism must have a purpose–perhaps that sensationalism is what is filling the coffers of the massive fundraisers for Amish Amos Miller? In less than 2 months, they’ve raised over $250K for this legal case. This on top of the hundreds of thousands (maybe 500K?) from Miller’s previous case with the USDA that Miller lost–with Barnes’ assistance.
I’ll ask again…
What is that money going towards?
How will this fundraising effort change the laws for all small farmers?
How will these funds go towards improving conditions for food security across our country?
And why won’t Miller or Barnes clarify where that money is going?
After all, that is a vast amount raised by sincere supporters and, so far, all outcomes have been a disaster for them.
The hearing was fair
Leading up to the February 29 hearing was the January 4, 2024 investigation of Miller’s farm by the PDA. After that investigation, the PDA requested an injunction against the farm from selling raw milk and raw milk products until the court heard the case. They got the temporary injunction, meaning Miller could not sell the items covered under that injunction.
Thursday's hearing was for the judge to rule on whether the injunction remains in effect until the case plays out in court–likely many months.
In other words, would Miller be able to return to his entirely unregulated, uninspected national sales of raw milk, raw dairy products, baked goods, and a plethora of other products while this case moves through the court process?
Of course the judge granted the state's injunction against Miller! How could he possibly do otherwise? (Read the court docs) This ruling essentially affirms that all farmers are equal. They all have to abide by the same laws (or work to change them) and are all able to take advantage of the same exemptions–even if those exemptions are not as broad as some farmers would like.
As I predicted in my previous article, there was simply no way a judge could rule in favor of Miller. That would have constituted imposing a vast and sweeping exemption on a single farm, going way beyond the scope of the law and the courts.
Again, the hearing revealed some of the evidence from the state including that 25% of the milk from Miller’s farm that was tested, came out positive for listeria.
While not a dairy farmer myself, I’ve been intimately involved with raw dairy farms for 2 decades now. Listeria in milk samples is a problem that farmers with integrity face head on and work tirelessly to correct until it is solved!
It is a farmer’s moral and fiduciary obligation to protect their consumers. That is what good farmers do without question.
“What could possibly be leading to such high rates of positive listeria tests from Miller’s milk?” one might wonder.
Standards matter
If you are supporting Miller’s farm, in these legal proceedings I ask you this:
Are those acceptable standards for you?
Do trusting customers deserve to know where their milk is coming from and if it is being outsourced?
Speaking of transparency, one spectator outside the hearing this past Thursday, asked one of the speakers just that question: “where is the money being raised by Amos and his attorney going?” And “How will this case support other small farmers?”
Valid questions for a sensationalist case that has attracted massive media attention, time, energy, and loads of fundraising.
But rather than getting an answer, he got attacked (literally) by people who clearly do not want this case to be transparent. They say they want “food freedom.”
It seems that this whole case is being propped up by the rally cry of “freedom.”
What is Food Freedom?
If you are donating to, or financially supporting this case, I’ll ask what the spectator asked, “where is that money going?”
Is it going to change the laws so that all farmers have the opportunity to sell more raw milk products under more exemptions?
Is it going to help food insecure families or people with chronic illness find and access healing foods near them?
Is there any transparency in how these funds will be spent? If not, why not?
Or is your money going to increase business and potential profits for one wealthy “farmer?”
Rather than work hard to change the laws or reduce regulations for all farmers, Miller and his minions are arguing that Miller’s farm should be exempt from all the laws because they say so.
I would deduce, based on Miller’s actions and words, partly because he expresses pseudolegal ideology and partly because he demands unwritten Old Order Amish privilege, that some even believe that there should be no government involvement in their food at all.
If you believe that, then I give you this challenge:
Produce some food of your own.
Network with immediate community and other local circles to grow, produce, and process what you need.
Support farmers in your immediate area who are doing these things.
Learn everything you can about food production and processing so that you are in a position to do it all for yourself.
Stop making excuses and start somewhere.
We have exemptions in place that cover most, if not almost all, of the concerns of the anti-government minded fringe.
But distributing food from one centralized farm over thousands of miles while dodging both state and federal laws along the way and undercutting other honest farmers simply will not work.
This is not how to do “food freedom.”
Our country is one of laws
Our country is one of involvement. We are at liberty to engage and work together to change the laws we don’t like.
Right now, us Raw Milk Mamas who value a local, secure food system are a tiny minority. Legislatures cannot do a tidal wave of law changes based on a tiny minority no matter how passionate we are. There is simply not enough consensus or momentum.
And, maybe more importantly, most Americans don’t care enough to work towards any change.
But instead of buckling down and doing the work locally, many consumers have thrown money, attention, and energy to pay for a sensationalized, unwinnable case. Does this make them rubes? No, unwittingly it makes them cash cows.
The only possible outcome of an unwinnable case like Miller’s is increased attention and unwanted scrutiny on all our food providers–including those who are following the laws while working to change them.
Even if that is not what Amos Miller’s misled supporters intended, that is what we are all going to get.
This impacts ALL the raw milk mamas–and others–who are seeking clean, healthy food for their families.
What will that impact be? Only time can tell.
There are only 2 viable solutions:
Grow, produce and process some of your own food locally. Then support and network with others to do the same. Start with any amount. Start small, and start where you are. If you can not do this because you do not have the land or space, volunteer and or financially contribute to someone who can LOCALLY.
Work to change the laws and regulations to increase access to local food where you live, work and play so that all farmers have equal opportunity to serve their communities.
(Yes, this might mean you need to spend more time digging in the dirt than scrolling instagram or getting angry while watching youtube or tiktok videos falsely claiming that the government is shutting down small farms.)
As we build a groundswell of local, secure food systems, we will create more of them until nothing can hold back that vision.
But we won’t get there without the mamas.
Barnes can shout as loud as he wants, a fat cigar in one hand and expensive liquor in the other, but the kind of changes he says he wants will not work without respecting and supporting the mamas. We make most of the choices of what comes into our homes. We are preparing most of the meals, growing most of the gardens, teaching most of the children, and finding the best sources we can.
And yes, there are MANY good men out there doing the same! I know many, and respect all of the men that put in the hard work and daily sacrifice it takes to provide a quality of life our children deserve and desperately need for safe growth.
Furthermore, us Raw Milk Mamas that Miller and Barnes claim to be “dupes, rubes, frauds, liars and fakes” are speaking out, lobbying, changing policies in schools, hospitals and grocery stores. We are leading, growing our communities, teaching, and helping others heal as we are on our own healing journeys as well.
This whole movement is carried by the mamas. So to disparage us is to destroy your own selves.
It’s time to start supporting your farmers and mamas where you live, work, and play.
If you truly value food freedom, food security and access to healthy foods for you and your family, get ready to participate locally.
Get behind your local farmers, and aspiring farmers. Support them, and let them know their dreams of a local, secure food system are not only possible, but they are what we’ve all been waiting for. Find the mamas making changes in their state assemblies, municipalities, HOAs, and neighborhoods and support them too.
It’s not glamorous. There’s no super hero leading the way, no cameras, no social media following you around.
Nope, it’s the hard work and perseverance of thousands….millions… of honest farmers and “Raw Milk Mamas” taking a few steps every day to secure their local food system.
Join us for food security in your community. We welcome you.
About Raw Milk Mama: I believe that we can reclaim our food systems through direct action. But it takes your participation whether you’re growing food, processing, or willing to support those who are. And sometimes, it takes taking direct action or calling on your state or federal elected officials.
I’m dedicated to helping people understand our food system and how we each fit into it.
Here’s how you can be part of it:
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Don't Spill on Me. That would be gross.
https://yourfamilyfarmer.com/raw-milk-safety-faqs
A PA farm who does it right. I’ve seen something similar years ago up here when an “alternative” doctor got hauled up by the provincial health board, and everyone got up in arms about health freedom. Thing is WE went to this “doctor” and he was rude and unprofessional. The fact he was loosing his license was because he was a lousy doctor who wrapped himself in the “alternate” flag to give himself cover.
This smells similar.