The general assumption about the after-hours announcement May 7 that
the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources was withdrawing
its proposed ban on buying clubs was that the move was prompted by a
torrent of calls and emails from consumers opposing the ban.

But
is it possible we have all seriously misunderstood the MDAR move? Is it
possible, in fact, that MDAR withdrew the proposed ban because it wants
to make the ban even more restrictive than originally planned?

Absolutely
yes, to both questions, based on a remarkable May 7 letter
from Massachusetts Department of Public Health commissioner John
Auerbach to his counterpart (puppet) at MDAR, Scott Soares. Consider the
following points from the letter:

• The MA DPH commissioner recommends extending the previously proposed
  ban on buying clubs “by making clear that so-called ‘cow-share,’
  ‘goat-share,’ etc. arrangements, which attempt to evade” regulation, are
  included.
• Auerbach is explicit in his preference that “in an ideal world we
  would prefer that all milk sold in Massachusetts be pasteurized…” He
  seems to see himself as being magnanimous in acknowledging “that some
  local farms are realizing an economic benefit from the sale of raw milk”
  and thus “we have provided measures…that aim to reduce the risk of
  serious illness.”
• He repeats a lie that between 1998 and 2008 there have been two
  deaths “from consumption of raw milk…” The two deaths reported by the
  U.S. Centers for Disease Control were from consumption of queso fresca
  cheese, which is often produced from conventional unpasteurized milk
  known to be dangerous, and disavowed by raw milk proponents. And I must
  have missed it, but I couldn’t find any reference in the letter to the
  three deaths and the loss of a fetus in Massachusetts from consumption
  of pasteurized milk in 2007; nor could I find any reference to the fact
  that Massachusetts hasn’t had a single illness from raw milk during that
  same time period (or since).
• He repeats a declaration made by the U.S. Food and Drug
  Administration recently that consumers have no food rights. “…it is
  unfortunate that some raw milk advocates have chosen to portray their
  choice to buy raw milk as a ‘right.’…it has long been established that
  states have the authority to enact laws and regulations to protect the
  health and safety of their citizens.” Yes, all bow down to Emperor John
  Auerbach, and be thankful for his magnanimity in not demanding his
  puppet Soares ban raw milk sales entirely.