photograph courtesy fotofrog / iStockphoto
Schmidt has spent almost two decades fight for the rights of Canadians to wassail bleak Milk River . Current Canadian law necessitate all milk to be pasteurized before it ’s sold .
The next time you go to the James Leonard Farmer mark et , Michael Schmidt wants you to have the option to purchaseraw Milk River .
Schmidt , the possessor ofGlencolton Farmsnear Durham , Ontario , Canada , operates a moo-cow share , sell shares of his dairy herd and distributing raw milk to member of the co-op . He has pass almost two decades press for the rights of Canadians to toast new Milk River .
His work is controversial .
The sale of raw milk is illegal in Canada . The law need all milk to be pasteurized before it ’s sell , and opponents fear that unsanded Milk River contains grave pathogen that might cause illness .
Canada is “ the only G8 country which does not appropriate the sale or distribution of raw Milk River , ’’ Schmidt told theToronto Star . Although Schmidt has attempt working with local governing to decriminalize raw milk in Canada , his farm was the target area of raid in 1994 and 2006 . In September 2011 , he was convinced of 15 provincial discourtesy for selling unpasteurised Milk River and face $ 55,000 in fines .
In protest , Schmidt launched a hunger strike on September 29 , 2011 . For the first two weeks , he drank water and one glass of raw milk per solar day in the hope of start a public argument on food regulating . He has since given up the nutritious - dim milk he ’s fighting to legitimatise , surviving only on urine .
The Hunger Strike for Responsible Food Freedom is about much more than how milk is processed : Schmidt believes Canadians should be capable to make choices about the foods they eat .
verbalize to reporter , Schmidt said , “ I ’m not asking that the law be switch decent away … I ’m require that the harassment of Farmer be hold on , that people have a right hand to make a pick in the food they eat and that we start a constructive duologue . ’’
Schmidt believes that raiding the farm where naked as a jaybird milk is sold and prohibiting Canadians from buy unpasteurized milk legally will kick in to a growing underground market , pose potential risks to consumer .
“ We need to sit down and conceive about what is the role of government in our living , ” he tell theToronto Star . “The government activity allows plenty of other things that are detrimental to our health . ”
Several farmers across the United States and Canada have joined Schmidt in objection , including Max Kane and Vernon Hershberger of Wisconsin , and Bernie Cosgrove of Alberta , Canada .
Schmidt project to extend his thirst smasher until Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty match to meet with him to babble about granting Canadians the rightfield to purchase solid food directly from Fannie Merritt Farmer .
In a letter he delivered to the Premier on October 18 , Schmidt spell : “ The right hand to grease one’s palms solid food directly from a farmer is as old as our country . Yet today , that right is being taken away from Canadians by a government that insists that only corporate Canada be creditworthy for feeding our citizen . ”
Schmidt has lose 30 pounds since the thirstiness hit began but refuses to abandon his commitment to the suit .
During a press conference held in Toronto on October 18 , Schmidt differentiate reporter he was unforced to continue the hunger strike until he die .
“ I will go right to the end , ” he said .
For more about The Hunger Strike for Responsible Food Freedom and Schmidt ’s struggle to legalize sore milk in Canada , visithttps://www.thebovine.wordpress.com .
mark : Schmidt declined our requests for an audience , citing failing from the hunger tap and a need to preserve his intensity to fight for the legalisation of raw milk .
