Court testimony suggests raw milk safe

[Guest guest]

A scientific debate over the health risks and benefits of farm-fresh milk took over a Newmarket Ontario, court today.

Dairy farmer Schmidt called on two expert witnesses to testify to the inherent safety of raw milk and its myriad health benefits for consumers.

Hull, an expert in dairy microbiology from , Australia, took the stand this morning to confirm the health benefits of raw milk. Untreated milk, he told the court, contains beneficial bacteria that boost human immune systems and protect the milk itself from pathogens.

The second phase of the ongoing raw milk trial, which deals with Schmidt's constitutional challenge to mandatory pasteurization laws, started yesterday afternoon.

Earlier in the week, Schmidt, who operates an organic dairy farm in Durham, Ont., defended himself against 20 charges laid under two different acts, which stem from his production, storage and distribution of raw milk.

Schmidt told the court yesterday that the outright ban of raw milk is "overbroad legislation" and said the current laws surrounding mandatory pasteurization infringe on his — and his cow-share members' — rights.

"We, as individuals, have the right to decide what is good for our body, our soul and our spirit," he told the court.

Dr. Theodore Beals, a pathologist, professor at the University of Michigan and advisor on raw milk management in Michigan, testified that raw milk is not inherently risky and that farmers who produce raw milk directly for the consumer have appropriate farm management systems in place to ensure the farm-fresh milk is safe for consumers.

Chace, a lawyer with the Ministry of the Attorney General, challenged both Hull's and Beals' expert testimony, suggesting that the weight of peer-reviewed scientific literature clearly rests on the side of mandatory pasteurization.

She suggested the opinions of both Hull and Beals are "the minority view."

Prosecutors are expected to call their expert witnesses to testify to the health risks of unpasteurized milk this afternoon.

The trial continues.

Ogilvie Health Reporter