Amish Farm Fined $250K, Facing Jail Time for Humanely Raising and Selling Food to Willing Customers

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[–]ActuallyNot 7 insightful - 2 fun7 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 2 fun -  (9 children)

I believe the $250K was for contempt of court. Not for humanely raising and selling food to willing customers. (Is the willing redundant there?)

It seems that in late 2015, the Food and Drug Administration, isolated and identified Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono) bacteria in samples of Miller’s raw milk; through whole genome sequencing, found the bacteria to be genetically similar to L. mono in two individuals who had developed listeriosis (with one dying) after consuming raw milk; and named Miller’s as the “likely source” of those infections.

So they went to the FDA to get access to the farm to inspect the operations. They haven't gotten the ordered access over the past 5 years, and now the Judge reckons it's time for them to do something about the repeated orders to allow inspections not having any affect. Hence the $250K.

To be fair, he could allow the fucking inspections.

[–][deleted]  (8 children)

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    [–]ohkrill 2 insightful - 3 fun2 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 3 fun -  (7 children)

    If'n you're gonna sell meat to the public, the gub'ment has the right to inspect that the meat is safe to consume. That's the law, and it's been the law for more than a hundred years. I mean, good luck taking a stand for whatever they think is "evil" about imposing a modicum of food safety, but it's a fight they're not going to win.

    [–][deleted]  (6 children)

    [deleted]

      [–]ohkrill 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (5 children)

      Well, there's no Constitutional argument to be had here. The authority of the USDA to inspect a farm that sells meat to consumers is pretty well-established and there's not a court in the nation that would find it to be unconstitutional. Is it ethical? I'd argue that of course it is, the government has a role in ensuring the safety of the food supply - but of course, that is a philosophical argument and I gather I'm arguing with someone who wants to eat meat free from any kind of government oversight, which is a bizarre hill to die on, but okay.

      Here's a court document related to this case that lays down some facts: https://aglaw.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/USA-v.-Millers-Organic-Farm-Order-to-Show-Cause-6.7.21.pdf

      I think it's significant that Millers entered into a consent decree, legally agreeing that the farm sold meat products that were subject to the USDA's authority to regulate and inspect, and despite warnings, continued to engage in practices that the court told them they couldn't do. I also note that Millers never applied for any kind of exemption (and at this point, having continued to ignore repeated warnings and court orders, I'm guessing if they did so now it'd be too late).

      [–][deleted]  (4 children)

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        [–]ohkrill 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

        Okay, dude. Enjoy your listeria.

        [–][deleted]  (2 children)

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          [–]ohkrill 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

          Translation: you're a complete tool.