Michael Schmidt Returns to Court to Appeal Raw Milk Case

Jul 26, 2012

Ontario Court of Appeal to Review Schmidt’s 13 Convictions

Dairy farmer Michael Schmidt is no stranger to controversy, or to the Ontario legal system for that matter. On Wednesday July 26 2012 Schmidt heads back to court in an attempt to appeal all 13 convictions he received on November 25 2011 related to the sale and distribution of unpasteurized milk and operating a plant without a license.

At the time of the initial ruling, Schmidt was also fined $9,150 CAD and was placed on probation for one year. In Canada it is illegal to distribute, market, sell or even deliver unpasteurized milk to the public. However, it is legally allowed for farmers and their immediate families to drink raw milk and use it for making cheese for their own consumption.

According to Health Canada’s website “The number of food-borne illness outbreaks from milk has dramatically decreased since pasteurization of milk was made mandatory by Health Canada in 1991” While others close to the topic insist that raw milk has additional health benefits that are lost in the pasteurization process, the government has held its ground on the potential health hazards of consuming unpasteurized dairy products.

Schmidt will appear in court today with his lawyer, Karen Selick, who will be asking the court of appeal to re-open the cross-examination of an expert witness originally called by the crown about a study that was published months after Schmidt’s trial had concluded.

Video: Exploring Precision Data in Swine Production - Dr. Janice Siegford

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show, Dr. Janice Siegford from Michigan State University discusses how precision livestock farming data can support pig health, welfare, transparency, and decision making. She explains why data ownership, privacy, consumer perception, and cost sharing must be addressed as technology becomes more common on farms. Listen now on all major platforms.

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Meet the guest: Dr. Janice Siegford / janice-siegford-24318839 is a Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Animal Science at Michigan State University. Her expertise in animal welfare, neuroscience, and zoology supports research on pig behavior, stress resilience, and precision livestock farming. Her work explores early weaning, genetics, and stakeholder perspectives on technology adoption to improve pig care, health, and productivity. Learn more from Dr. Janice Siegford on The Swine it Podcast Show, available on all major platforms.