Page 96 - Summer2008

health benets of raw milk in dustry insist that children
studies going back over 80 years. should not have the right
Raw milk is superior to pasteur- to consume raw milk,
ized milk in building strong even hinting that parents
bones, preventing tooth decay, who love their children
supporting normal growth and enough to give them raw
development, preventing asthma milk are guilty of child
and allergies and providing pro- abuse.
tection against infectious and Our opponents today
chronic disease. will insist that raw milk
The latest study comes is inherently dangerous
from Europe, where investiga- and that there is no way
tors found, in a study of 14,893 to make it safe. These
children aged 5-13, that con- arguments are based on
sumption of raw milk was the Protesters at the hearing for raw milk dairy farmer Mark Nolt, 40-year-old science and a
strongest factor for reducing organized by Gettysburg chapter leader Maureen Diaz and Kim- discredited medical para-
the risk of asthma and allergy, berly Hartke, WAPF public relations pro, who saw to it that the digm. Raw milk is inher-
event was publicized in 17 newspapers, two national magazines,
whether the children lived on a five television newscasts and over 50 internet blogs. ently safe, safer than any
farm or not. The benets were other food, and we have

greatest when consumption of raw milk began during the rst year of life. the technology and knowledge today to get safe

About ve million children in the US are aficted with asthma and 5,500 raw milk to children in every part of the country.

people die from asthma each year. About 1250 people in the US die from Our opponents will insist that raw milk has no
food-borne pathogens from all sources with virtually no deaths from raw health bene ts compared to pasteurized. They
milk. Thus, the risk of dying from asthma is over four times greater than will omit mention of the many studies which

the risk of dying from food-borne pathogens from all sources, and innitely show that pasteurization destroys the vital
greater than the risk of dying from raw milk. Yet defenders of the dairy in- qualities of milk, reduces nutrient assimilation,

THE MICHAEL SCHMIDT CASE IN CANADA

The May 23 trial of Durham dairy farmer Michael Schmidt has been postponed. Schmidt is charged with twenty
violations of the Ontario Health Promotion Protection Act and the Ontario Milk Act. On November 21, 2006, officials
from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Grey-Bruce County Health Unit raided Schmidt’s farm, seizing
thousands of dollars worth of products, supplies and equipment. The raid gave rise to charges that stem from Schmidt’s
operation of a herd share program and the distribution of raw milk and raw milk products to his shareholders.
The decision to postpone the trial was made following a pre-trial hearing involving Schmidt, prosecutors and the
justice of the peace who is scheduled to preside over the trial. Schmidt is optimistic that the dialogue begun at the pre-
trial hearing may lead to a settlement between himself and the province or, at the least, clarify the issues to be presented
at trial. In addition, he believes that the Ministry of Natural Resources has indicated to him that it is now willing to return
processing equipment that had been seized in the 2006 raid.
Schmidt plans to represent himself at the trial. The justice of the peace has asked Schmidt to work together with
the prosecution to reach a consensus on the facts of the case. The farmer believes the trial will bring into focus the
clash between the freedom of the individual’s right to freedom of choice and the government’s regulatory responsibility
to protect the public health. In agreeing to work with the prosecution to reach an agreement on the facts of the case,
Michael said “they [the prosecution] cannot change the law, but we can work together to present the case in a manner
that it will be possible to get to the core of the argument, which will eventually bring about change.”
The farmer is also facing a separate trial for contempt for violating an order issued by an Ontario Superior Court
prohibiting Schmidt from distributing raw milk within the regional municipality of York; no date for this trial had been
set. Schmidt is encouraging his supporters to continue a letter writing campaign to challenge those having “the last word
as authorities in the field of food safety and health.” In the farmer’s own words, “this battle for individual rights, for in-
dividual freedoms and against the abuse of power of so-called experts, politicians and bureaucrats becomes so defining
in the years ahead of us. It is paramount to recognize the power within which will allow change to happen. We are not
powerless.” (See quotes from “Raw milk activist says ‘dialogue’ starts” in Owen Sound Sun Times (3/20/08).)
94 Wise Traditions SUMMER 2008