Since having the law changed in 2009 to allow for the sale of camel milk, Dr. Hinkle has been working to set up dairies and to meet the regulations required by the FDA for the sale of camel milk commercially. On July 30, 2012, the FDA gave Dr. Hinkle final approval for the milk to appear on grocery shelves throughout the U.S. immediately!!! When people here in the U.S. drink the milk they have Dr. Hinkle to thank for all her effort in making it happen. “I am very grateful to have been the person responsible for making the milk available for so many people here in the U.S. and am fortunate to see such positive results in the medical research I have been involved in with the milk,” states Dr. Hinkle.

The goal of Camel Milk USA is to make camel milk available to citizens of the United States and to further medical research and studies of camel milk in this country. There are so many people who could benefit from the healing properties of this milk. The high levels of insulin in camel's milk and the antibodies, which are much simpler in structure than human milk antibodies, enable it to penetrate deeper into the human tissue and cells, which means that the milk has the potential to serve as a major weapon against many human illnesses.

Studies done in other countries with autism, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, Crohn's, Parkinson's, food allergies and a variety of other illnesses have been impressive, but Dr. Hinkle wants to repeat those studies with pasteurized milk in medically supervised double-blind studies here in the U.S. (Many states do not allow raw milk to be sold; therefore we must use pasteurized milk if it is to be sold throughout the U.S.) Dr. Hinkle has had some positive feedback with pasteurized camel milk for the same ailments but more in-depth studies are needed.

Dr. Hinkle also has founded the American Camel Coalition, an organization composed of camel owners and breeders here in the United States. The Coalition acts as an agent to introduce and support laws and legislation that benefit camel owners and their rights. It also acts as a resource center for information about the importation and sale of camels, camel milk products, the establishment of camel dairies, and as a referral source for potential camel buyers.

Dr. Hinkle has finished with the new protocol for all of the dairies under the Coalition. They are all required to have their camels tested for Tuberculosis and Brucellosis as well as parasites and other pathogens common to camels. Each dairy must present proof from a veterinarian of the camel's health record.

Dr. Hinkle meets with Coalition members to ensure that packaging meets approved standards and to recommend regulated prices so that sales across the U.S. are uniform. Dr. Hinkle cautions that milk from dairies that are not members of the American Camel Coalition do not necessarily meet their standards and individuals should check to make sure that the camel has been tested and that the milk is safe to drink.

Camel Milk USA also works closely with other camel dairies throughout the world to promote and import their camel milk and camel milk products for use here.

Camel Industry Expands Across U.S.

A caravan of trailers, trucks and Amish buggies were gathered recently at a farm in Missouri for the very first American Camel Coalition meeting. The American Camel Coalition, founded by Dr. Millie Hinkle in 2009, is made up of most of the camel milk producing dairies in the U.S. The Coalition has very strict guidelines for its members, which enables it to provide milk that is clean and safe to drink. All members of the Coalition are required to test their camel for Brucellosis and Tuberculosis and for other pathogens that are common to camels, and records are kept by the Coalition on each dairy. Dairies must follow the strict sanitation protocol demanded by the Coalition. “We want the public to feel safe when they are drinking milk from any of the dairies that are members of the Coalition,” states Hinkle.

Hinkle has started the first ever pedigree database for camel in the U.S. In the past camel owners have been unaware if they are breeding camels that are closely related to one another, because there has been no record of pedigree kept. Hinkle aims to change this by requiring all members of the Coalition to keep records of their camels and to tag each camel. The database is kept on file with the Coalition and with each individual camel owner. This will enable us to have better breeding and stronger genetic links among the camel population in the U.S. (there are only approximately 3,000 camel in the U.S.).

International Camel Advisory Board

The International Camel Advisory Board is made up of camel experts from around the world who give freely of their time and advice. The members are so helpful with information in the field of research and development, from breeding to the proper feed to milking techniques. The camel industry is fortunate to have this great resource available.