Quebec Legalizes Raw Milk Cheese; Many Americans Rejoice
Photograph from Rhian vK on Flickr
First universal health care and now this: The government of Quebec announced last week that it will legalize the sale of raw milk cheeses. This is important and welcome news for North American cheese lovers, especially those like me who live in the Northeast United States and own a car—and several big duffel bags.
Like the U.S., Canada allows the sale of raw milk cheeses aged over 60 days, for the widely held belief that any harmful bacteria will have perished before that time. But now, in a move that is sure to stir up the age-old French-English tensions, government officials in Quebec have legalized the sale of raw milk cheeses aged fewer than 60 days, citing evidence that says raw milk cheeses produced under proper conditions are no less safe than pasteurized cheeses.
By sheer coincidence (or not), the feds in Ottawa followed close on the heels of Quebec's proclamation with one of their own: a voluntary recall of a fresh goat cheese sold in Ontario and Quebec that could be contaminated with listeria (no cases of illness were reported).
Ironically, the recalled cheese was pasteurized, which to me gives further credence to the notion that pasteurization isn't a panacea for bacterial contamination—proper sanitary conditions during production are. Accompanying the laws that will legalize raw milk cheese in Quebec are stricter sanitary and veterinary requirements for cheesemakers and dairy farmers.
It will be interesting to see the political and gastronomic ramifications. I, for one, will be heading up I-87 in the very near future with minimal clothing packed and lots of trunk space. (Sh, don't tell the border guards!) Hey, if I do get sick from eating all this raw milk cheese, there's always that free, universal health care to take good care of me.
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10 Comments:
Are you kidding me?!?!? I JUST moved to SF from the Northeast. Perhaps I'll have to schedule in a quick trip to Quebec next time I visit my family in Upstate NY. Amazing!
kamico at 3:30PM on 08/05/08
You have to be a resident, at least 3 months to get universal health care.
From experience, US border guards do random searches often, and it wouldn't surprise me if they step up the searches after this new development. If you do plan to smuggle cheese back, I would wait until the novelty has worn off before attempting it.
gnomatic at 4:12PM on 08/05/08
!
pecorino at 4:48PM on 08/05/08
VIVE LE QUEBEC LIBRE!!!
Pointy at 5:20PM on 08/05/08
road trip!
DanielJ at 6:31PM on 08/05/08
What gnomatic said about crossing the border. You don't want to get caught with a cooler full of undeclared, illegal cheese unless you have an extra $10,000 laying around to pay the fine. You could probably get away with playing dumb over a small amount, though. That's my plan, anyways, regarding all those Vietnamese sandwiches I don't ever bring home.
Eat at you want while you're there though. Healthcare is cheap even if you're not a citizen. I broke my ankle in Montreal a few years ago. At the time, the emergency room cost around $350 per day. Not per minute like here in the US...per day!
kurteye at 7:08PM on 08/05/08
The health plan isn't free, ever heard of taxes?
spork at 10:50PM on 08/05/08
Canada's tax rate isn't bad, especially considering that you actually get something in return.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_Canada
Doctrine at 11:57PM on 08/05/08
HAHAHAHA!
Canadian taxes aren't so bad???? Ever hear of PST and GST?? Isn't the tax rate in Ontario something hideously astronomical like 14%!!!!? On almost everything!
Oh have you tried buying a bottle of say, Fetzer plonk at the government controlled liquour board lately? I suggest you do, "Doctrine" and then tell me "that you actually get something in return". You might be surprised to find that the Canadian govt. markup could be like, um.... 300%.
Consider that the cost of living in Canada is higher (I said the "cost" not the "standard") and the per capita income is lower. Hmmmm, with all the $$$ the Govt is making at the Liquor Control Board, it should be providing free health care....
I hope you're feeling this smug when you're enjoying that -26C windchill in a couple of months.
Pointy at 12:38PM on 08/06/08
Canada's tax rate IS bad. I know because I lived it. If you are a healthy young person with a good professional job, you will probably do better in the US. If you have a family, or have health issue, or working class, probably better off in Canada.
Unless of course you are in dire need of cancer treatment, then you are screwed and have to pay for treatments outside of Canada because of the wait list at your local hospitals...or that many family doctors won't take new patients because their annual income is capped.
Don't believe everything Michael Moore says about the greatness of the Canadian health care system.
Don't forget to fill up your tanks stateside first..you think the gas is expensive here HAHA! And I would not even _attempt_ smuggling cheese out if you are flying out of Canada.
gnomatic at 6:34PM on 08/06/08