Close X
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
ADVT 
National

Public Health Officials Raid Ontario Farmer Michael Schmidt's Van, Seize Raw Milk Products

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 30 Sep, 2015 01:15 PM
    MAPLE, Ont. — An Ontario farmer who has spent years fighting for the right to sell unpasteurized milk says public health officials north of Toronto have raided a van from his farming collective which held raw milk products.
     
    Michael Schmidt says officials seized several samples of raw milk products on Tuesday afternoon from the van which distributes them to people who have a share in the collective.
     
    "That was a raid," Schmidt said of what took place. "We have to wait and see if they take any further legal action. We definitely are prepared not to back down."
     
    York Region's director of health protection said a public health inspector was obstructed while attempting to enter "a food premise" on Tuesday.
     
    After obtaining a search warrant, public health officials were able to enter the premise and conduct an inspection, said Joe Lamarca.
     
    "It's a raw milk investigation," he said of the incident.
     
    Schmidt has fought a lengthy legal battle over raw milk products.
     
    Last August, the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear Schmidt's appeal of an earlier decision which meant his 2011 convictions on 13 charges under the Health Protection and Promotion Act and the Milk Act that saw him fined $9,150 stayed in place.
     
    The Ontario government maintains the unprocessed milk poses a significant risk to public health, but Schmidt insists there's no evidence anyone has ever fallen ill from his milk, and he and his supporters argue raw milk offers health benefits.
     
    Ontario does not ban the consumption of raw milk and farmers are allowed to drink the milk produced by their own cows.
     
    Earlier court decisions have found that Schmidt's previous method of allowing consumers to buy an ownership interest in a dairy cow was little more than a way to circumvent the rules.
     
    Schmidt then changed the structure of his business, getting his customers to buy part ownership in the farm, rather than just the cows.
     
    "We think, according to what the judge said, we had set it up properly so people actually had the right to get their own milk," said Schmidt.
     
    Schmidt said members of the farming collective who were by the van to collect their products began protesting when health officials tried to seize all the raw milk products on the vehicle.
     
    He said the officials then ended up leaving with only some samples.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Nova Scotia Land-Raised Salmon Proof Business Is Viable: Environmentalists

    This week, Sustainable Fish Farming is shipping its first fish under the brand name Sustainable Blue to stores and restaurants across the province.

    Nova Scotia Land-Raised Salmon Proof Business Is Viable: Environmentalists

    Rainy Crash On Twisting Vancouver Island Highway Kills Ontario Cyclist

    Rainy Crash On Twisting Vancouver Island Highway Kills Ontario Cyclist
    A 61-year-old Brampton, Ont., man has been killed in a cycling accident on a winding Vancouver Island highway.

    Rainy Crash On Twisting Vancouver Island Highway Kills Ontario Cyclist

    Oland Murder Trial Resumes With Testimony About Search By Canine Officer

    Richard Oland was found dead in his Saint John office the morning of July 7, 2011.

    Oland Murder Trial Resumes With Testimony About Search By Canine Officer

    Hardev Sihota, Associate Of K.S. Makhan, Gets 6 Years In Jail For Smuggling Heroin Into Vancouver

    Hardev Sihota, Associate Of K.S. Makhan, Gets 6 Years In Jail For Smuggling Heroin Into Vancouver
    The ruling noted that Makhan hired Sihota for his services as an electrician. His suitcase had a false bottom that had two plastic bags with two kilograms of heroin worth 645,000 Canadian dollars 

    Hardev Sihota, Associate Of K.S. Makhan, Gets 6 Years In Jail For Smuggling Heroin Into Vancouver

    Richmond Woman Sexually Assaulted By Man Pretending To Be Massage Therapy Student At Kwantlen

    Richmond Woman Sexually Assaulted By Man Pretending To Be Massage Therapy Student At Kwantlen
    RCMP say the man allegedly approached a 19-year-old woman at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and said he was doing a survey.

    Richmond Woman Sexually Assaulted By Man Pretending To Be Massage Therapy Student At Kwantlen

    Kimberly Mack, First Nations Woman Alleges Illegal Search, Says Police Threatened To Seize Her Child

    Kimberly Mack, First Nations Woman Alleges Illegal Search, Says Police Threatened To Seize Her Child
    Kimberly Mack will appear in provincial court in Bella Coola Thursday asking to be compensated $15,000 for what she alleges was an illegal search that failed to turn up any drugs.

    Kimberly Mack, First Nations Woman Alleges Illegal Search, Says Police Threatened To Seize Her Child