Raw Milk is a whole food

If you live in Canada and follow the news, then chances are you've heard of the big RAW MILK SCANDAL - Michael Schmidt and the recent bust of his farm. Schmidt sells raw milk to hundreds of people every week. Selling raw milk commercially is illegal. He gets around that by running his farm like a coop, so his customers technically "own" the cow. Drinking raw milk from your own cow is perfectly legal. Since the raid, Schmidt has been on a hunger strike - drinking only one glass of raw milk everyday until his farming equipment is returned to him.

What makes me so angry is the Health Canada and the Dairy Council are taking this opportunity to scare the bejeesus out of everyone, telling the media how bad unpasterized milk is for you. They are telling people that raw milk could be contaminated with e-coli or other bacteria. This could definitely be the case, but farmers like Schmidt that other organic farmers take care in the production of their milk. The milk is fresh and people have been buying it from him for years. Buying from a trustworthy farmer is perfectly safe. Further than that, it comes down to choice. It should be our choice as to what we put in our bodies.

The truth is, that milk in it's raw form is the way we should be drinking it. When milk is processed, it's enzymes are taken away. It is the lack of these enzymes that make milk to hard to digest - enter lactose intolerance. We develop lastase, the enzyme needed to digest milk and with constant milk drinking, the enzyme runs out. Most people do not have this enzyme as adults. Raw milk contains the needed enzymes so your body does not have to produce them itself. It's like any raw food. Raw milk also contains nutrients in their whole form. Vitamin C, folic acid and calcium that the dairy councils tell you is in milk is actually added back in to the milk after it is heated. Raw milk does not need to be enriched.

I am not a milk drinker, nor do I recommend it as a necessity in the diet. That being said, I am much more of a proponent of raw milk and cheese and think everyone should have a right to buy them. Raw milk is a whole food. The crappy thing is that this man's life was taken away for selling something that's good for people while anyone can legally eat at McDonald's or buy a slab of discounted meat from the grocery store. I stand firmly behind farmer's rights to produce and sell it and I wish Michael Schmidt the best of luck.

Here is a letter, written by the farmer after the raid:

Thank you all for coming to save one farm at a time . . . to save one farmer at a time and to save the dignity of us farmers. On November 21, Glencolton Farms was raided as part of an 18-month investigation triggered by an incident NOT connected to this farm and NOT connected to farm fresh milk, the details of which were suspected but never proven. The Government and bureaucrats are now fabricating stories in order to justify their actions against free and sovereign individuals.

In 1994, I was charged and found guilty for exactly the same offences, that is, providing a service to our customers with products that they wanted. I was placed under probation for two years, meaning that I was not to produce and process any milk. During that time, I offered the Government this farm as a research facility for the production of farm fresh milk.

In 1995, I wrote letters to the Minister of Agriculture and Food, Elmer Buchanan, to the Minister of Health, Ruth Grier, and to the Ontario Milk Marketing Board. I notified all of them of my intention to continue the service of providing people with farm fresh milk from their own cows.

On March 16. 1995, the Toronto Star, Kitchener Waterloo Record and the Owen Sound Sun Times, along with many Farm papers, all carried the story of my attempt to work together with the Government. When there was no response, I announced that I would conduct my research independently and made it clear at that time that, if the farm were subjected to any more raids and interference, I would go on a hunger strike.

Yesterday’s event means that I must act on what I said more than 11 years ago. As of now, I will begin the hunger strike until all of the equipment, documents and other items removed from this farm have been returned. The Government has to agree to be financial liable for the personal property of cow share-owners. As well, they need to agree in writing that the farm is to be left alone, so that it can carry on its service to the 150 families, until and unless all of the issues have been dealt with in court or in the Legislative Assembly or House of Parliament.

This farm has been able to function for over 11 years with the full knowledge of every level of government. That it has been doing so has been public knowledge for over 11 years. The Government of Ontario and the Bruce Grey Owen Sound Health Unit, including Dr Murray McQuigge, at that time chief medical officer of health, had all the information at hand. They all decided to leave me alone. They had two choices at that time: to arrest me because I broke the probation or to leave me alone and let me continue. The fact that they left me alone, in my opinion, legalized this farm’s activities, and made the Government liable for their actions. A lawsuit from our side will follow, if necessary.

The cow share programme on this farm enables families to obtain their own milk. I am providing shelter, feed and care for their animals. I’m not arguing the fact that raw milk is better; I know it is better; it is the cow owners’ choice to drink their milk. This fight is not about me; it’s not about the farm; it’s about the freedom of informed choice for every individual in Ontario.

We are farmers who care with our heart for the land and the people. Government is regulating and controlling the farmers and consumers with bureaucrats and raw power. Everyone should have the right to own a cow and drink the milk that nourished our parents, our grandparents, our great grandparents, and us. Milk is nature’s perfect food. Let’s restore our respect for the land, our respect for the farmer who cares for the land, our respect for all human beings who are quite capable of making their own decisions.

The Queen of England has just turned down a submission to ban raw milk in England. She is drinking milk from her own cows. Please, all of you bureaucrats and government officials, respect our human right to choose.

Michael Schmidt, Glencolton Farms