Forget all that talk about Whole Foods developing raw milk standards and bringing unpasteurized milk back to its stores in California, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Connecticut.

Dairies in California and Pennsylvania were told today that the ban is indefinite, likely long term.

“Whole Foods never intended on bringing raw milk back to the shelves in California or anyplace in the U.S.,” says Mark McAfee of Organic Pastures Dairy Co.

“OPDC provided the $10 million in coverage requested and everything that anyone would want for food safety…Whole Foods is not putting raw milk back onto any shelves in the U.S. for the short term and foreseeable long term. No rational reason was given…We also were never given the Whole-Foods-team-developed enhanced national raw milk production safety standards that Whole Foods promised to us.”

On the East Coast, the message was essentially the same.  “I literally just got off the conference call with the Whole Foods people for the Mid-Atlantic region,” writes Edwin Shank of The Family Cow. “Liability was the reason we were given.”

Mark McAfee has taken to referring to Whole Foods as “Partial foods,” given its growing emphasis on asceptic (sterilized) milk.

Whole Foods’ decision is sad but not surprising–actually part of a long journey down the road of ever greater conformity with the factory food system. I can remember the days when Whole Foods’ predecessor in the Boston area wouldn’t carry any non-organic veggies and fruits, or foods with sugar or caffeine. No alcoholic or carbonated beverages were stocked . It’s gradually caved in on nearly everything, with the exception of Coca Cola, Frito Lay chips, and Wonder bread. Will those be next?

I have made a request to Whole Foods for comment, but have not heard back as yet.