FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, SEPT. 7, 2007
| CONTACT: |
Andrea Ashby, assistant director
NCDA&CS Public Affairs
(919) 733-4216, ext. 243 |
Board of Agriculture approves rule governing sale
of unpasteurized milk for pet food
Rule requires coloring, labeling
RALEIGH – The N.C. Board of Agriculture today approved a rule requiring anyone who sells unpasteurized milk for pet food to add a food coloring to the milk to give it a charcoal gray color. In addition, the product label would have to carry the statement, “Not for Human Consumption."
North Carolina law allows unpasteurized milk to be sold for pet food, but not for human consumption. Food protection officials with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services say the new coloring and labeling requirements will help keep unpasteurized milk out of the food chain.
The board voted 5-0 to approve the rule. It is scheduled to take effect Nov. 1, pending review by the state Rules Review Commission.
In other action, board members approved a request from the Small Grain Growers Association to conduct a referendum on continuing a half-percent assessment on sales of wheat, barley, oats, rye and grain sorghum. For the first time, the assessment also would apply to canola. The assessment would support research and development efforts for these crops. The assessment period would be three years for canola and six years for the other crops.
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