Trial for raw milk farmer

Colin Perkel/The Canadian Press

Farmer Michael Schmidt talks to supporters in front of his converted blue school bus yesterday outside court in Newmarket after a judge put over his case until September.

Pros and cons

Selling raw milk is illegal in Canada. Health officials warn unpasteurized milk can contain dangerous pathogens, such as salmonella and E. coli. But proponents of raw milk, who claim it provides health benefits and aids digestion, say they have the right to consume whatever food they want.

Published: August 01, 2008 5:02 a.m.

Last modified: July 31, 2008 11:05 p.m.

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Dairy farmer Michael Schmidt will be back in a Newmarket court in September to fight contempt of court charges for allegedly distributing unpasteurized milk in the Region of York.

The motion for contempt filed by the region was scheduled to be heard yesterday, but Superior Court Justice Michael Brown ruled the matter was too serious to proceed without a trial. The case has been adjourned until Sept. 10 for a three-day trial to allow the court to hear from witnesses.

The region filed the contempt charge against Schmidt for failing to obey orders to stop distributing raw milk within its borders.