Clifford raw milk cow share investigated

Friday, September 28, 2012

by SUSAN MANN

An investigation into a Clifford-area farm in Huron County to determine if it’s illegally selling and distributing raw milk through cow share arrangements is continuing, says an official with the Huron County Health Unit.

Jean-Guy Albert, public health manager with the health unit, says they were informed a possible cow share operation was being conducted at the farm.  “We were informed of a potential health concern.”

Albert says he couldn’t say who told them of the health concern. The investigation began on Sept. 18.

No charges have been laid. Albert says they’re investigating to determine if activities at the farm are in compliance with Ontario’s Health Protection and Promotion Act. Under the Act, it’s illegal to sell or distribute raw, unpasteurized milk.

Albert says he doesn’t know when the investigation will be concluded.

Farmers and their families can drink unpasteurized milk from their own farms. Cow shares came to the attention of authorities after raw milk activist Michael Schmidt established one at his own farm near Durham. As part of the arrangement, customers pay a fee for a share of a dairy herd. As partial owners, they also own the milk and should be legally entitled to consume it.

But Schmidt is in the middle of a massive legal battle of his own involving his cow share operation. He was granted leave to appeal in July after he was convicted of 13 out of 19 original charges related to illegally selling and distributing raw milk. Initially, he was acquitted of 19 charges in 2010 but the Ontario government and the Grey Bruce Health Unit appealed and the acquittal was overturned in September 2011. Then, in November 2011, Schmidt was fined $9,150 and placed on probation for a year. BF