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Valoria H. Loveland, Director
Washington State Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 42560
Olympia, WA 98504-2560
Dear Director Loveland:
I am writing to update our group of consumer, agriculture and sound science coalition complaint to the Washington State Department of Agriculture dated May 16, 2002 (attached) to express our continuing concerns regarding the growing and apparently unchecked use of false and misleading labeling and marketing practices by certain dairy processors operating in Washington State.
This notice, in addition to our continuing concerns regarding those companies described in our first complaint, includes updated information regarding Wilcox Dairy and Larry's Markets:
- Wilcox, the dairy which purchased Vitamilk after Washington State regulators
issued a warning letter regarding Vitamilk's labeling and marketing practices, has
now added the Vitamilk language and claims to their milk labels and marketing
apparently ignoring the serious state and federal regulatory concerns raised by
your office (materials attached).
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Larry's Market has issued a press release (attached) noting their intention to
launch a new marketing campaign for their private label dairy products which
seek to make unsubstantiated distinctions regarding quality, nutrition and safety
based on their non-use of certain approved productivity supplements, which have
been determined to be safe and not alter milk in any way, used by their
competitors.
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