Farmer Mike Schmidt lost a court battle for the right to sell unpasteurized milk Tuesday, but says he will appeal the case to the highest court in the land. His province of Ontario does not allow the sale of unpasteurized milk on the grounds that it poses a significant risk to public health.
The government of Canada has banned the sale of raw milk since 1991, saying its consumption increases the risk of contracting serious foodborne illnesses such as E. coli.
Owners can consume their own raw milk
Ontario does not ban the consumption of raw milk and farmers are allowed to drink the milk produced by their own cows. Schmidt allowed consumers to buy an ownership interest in a dairy cow, but the court ruled that was little more than a way to circumvent the rules.
Schmidt argued the cow-share arrangement was “never a scheme,” he said, but rather “an attempt to work within the framework of the law.” He also fervently believes people should make their own decisions about the milk they drink.
“Nothing really changes for me,” Schmidt told The Canadian Press.
“Our plan is to move right to the Supreme Court. That’s the bottom line. We’re not stopping here.”
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