White Collar inspired question

[ratcreature]

In the recent ep Diana claims that Neal's raw milk Pecorino cheese was illegal (Neal counters that it was a gift, not sold), which I found very strange. I know that there is more concern about risks of raw milk products in the US than elsewhere, but surely the US wouldn't outlaw all kinds of cheeses? What on earth would be sold as Parmesan cheese in the US for example (I mean if you want the non-ersatz kind, i.e. proper Parmigiano-Reggiano), if raw milk cheese was really illegal? Or Gruyère? Or any of the other common cheeses that need raw milk? It's not like raw milk is only used in obscure specialty cheeses foodie snobs seek out.

Comments

[bluemeridian]

I'm guessing the writers made a mistake, knowing that raw milk is usually illegal in the states (paranoid bastards) but not realizing what kyriacarlisle mentions. Probably someone one read/saw an article about it being a hotbed issue and threw it in the script.

[ratcreature]

I find this milk thing so bizarre. I mean, here raw milk is controlled more, but to outlaw it? Next thing they'd want to demand sterilized plastic food only, because after all people can die from unfortunate bacteria contaminations on all kinds of natural food (as the over forty dead from the recent e.coli outbreak here show)...

[bluemeridian]

The power of lobbyists. :) The National Dairy Council is a group of large U.S. dairy farmers. They have a huge influence in Washington (primarily in Congress) by way of numerous lobbyists and dollars to spend. It is very much in their interest to prevent the sale of raw milk. *sigh*