Posted on 09/22/2012 12:41:22 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
A soft-spoken Minnesota farmer was cleared of violating state laws for distributing raw milk Thursday, a verdict advocates for such foods called their first major legal victory.
After a three-day trial and more than four hours of deliberation, a Hennepin County jury found Alvin Schlangen not guilty of three misdemeanor counts of selling unpasteurized milk, operating without a food license and handling adulterated or misbranded food.
The trial highlighted a deep national divide between raw milk advocates who contend unpasteurized dairy products can relieve allergies and prevent illness and public health officials who warn that raw milk can cause serious and sometimes fatal diseases, such as E. coli, salmonella and listeria.
"It's a big step in the right direction," Schlangen, 54, said Thursday, flanked by celebrating supporters. "I have a hard time understanding how this basic freedom has been so hard to maintain."
The raw milk debate emerged in Minnesota two years ago, when eight people were sickened by E. coli bacteria in raw milk that was linked to Minnesota producer Mike Hartmann. Hartmann faces similar charges as Schlangen did and is expected to be tried this fall. He also faces a lawsuit filed by the father of a boy who got sick from drinking raw milk.
Schlangen, an organic egg farmer from Freeport, Minn., doesn't produce milk himself but operates Freedom Farms Co-op, a private club with roughly 130 members who buy various farm products, including raw milk. Schlangen picks up the milk products from an Amish farm and delivers them to members.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
I drank raw milk as a kid and have lived to tell about it. My goodness, was that some good stuff!
Good news.
Nanny State PING!
If they own part of the cow, that should be good enough
If the verdict was not jury nullification of the law, it was darn close.
Raw = adulterated.
Homogenized = unadulterated.
Freedom = control.
Yes, so did I. My parents kept a few cows and chickens until the owners of the small farm we were renting decided to sell the land. We moved in near the local city, Eugene, Oregon, and had to give up the livestock.
We bought raw milk, butter and eggs from a small local dairy until Eugene annexed the area in 1959, and gave all the local farmers 2 years to conform to city ordinances, which of course shut them all down.
Before then, the area had been a major producer of walnuts, filberts and hay. The only farm products the city allowed to continue were grass seed and straw.
Raw milk makes the best Cheddar.
Raw milk is no more risky than pasteurized as long as rigid quality control and sanitation is maintained.
Good on the jury.
I was raised on raw milk. We made our own butter from the cream and it was great.
I am the oldest of 6 brats from a dirt poor family. Somehow my mom, without government help/interference, failed kill any of us. We don’t use raw milk today, if for no other reason it isn’t handy.
We used to raise our own beef, but quit after our hay bucking kids left home. LOL
We do raise and free-roam, our own chickens, geese and ducks... and we also eat their organic eggs. I should die any minute.... I am 64 next month.
Darn, I have a sudden craving for raw milk and homemade butter.
Inspected food can and does sometimes do that too ... but you don't see the SWAT teams raiding the offices of the inspectors, do you? Anyway, raw milk can be very hazardous to your health, when in fact it can bring dozens of adrenalized Rambo wannabees on your property, shouting obscenities at you and pointing machine guns at your head. As it happens though this risk doesn't have anything directly to do with the milk, however.
I’ve been drinking it for over 20 years ... and I’m 64.
I get double production (about a dozen a day .. they're just 6 mo this week .. RIReds) .. 'cause I get about a third double yolks.
My Dad grew up in the early 20th century in one of those bid old Southern homes. Not a farm, but they kept stables and cows. The kids used to go out to the barn and drink straight from the cow.
Fresh milk straight from a Guernsey cow, 50% milkfat. About the texture of latex paint when you swallow it.
Good stuff.
Raw milk has been with us since the first cow was milked. It is obvious form the millions that have died from milk over the millennia that something could be done.
Good for you. All of mine are RIReds too. Don’t be surprised if they quit giving you double yokes when they get a little older, my 26 girls did. We are now down to 17 hens and nearly ready to start over with chicks.
For awhile we had more eggs than we knew what to do with them. My wife sold some to her coworkers for $3.50 a dozen and each week she took a few dozen to the local food bank—those folks loved her for it. Imagine being down and out, finding it necessary to go to the food bank and you actually get large fresh brown eggs. ;>)
Fun thing: We picked a few eggs that the ducks have left outside their condo and placed them under a chicken. She hatched them a couple weeks ago and she is now taking care of 4 ducklings... cute to watch.
>>Minnesota farmer cleared in a milk case
I didn’t know a farmer could fit into a milk case.
We had cows and drank raw milk our whole lives until we all moved away from home. Also, Churned our own butter,had buttermilk, made cottage cheese, whipped cream, etc. We were all healthy, had strong bones and good teeth. This govt. reg. crap has gotten entirely out of hand in my opinion. We also butchered our own hogs and a steer all with no help from Uncle Sam. Folks had big gardens too and froze or canned vegetables. So did most of the neighbors and we all shared with older neighbors and needy families. We’re literally being “REGULATED” to death by the Fed. Gov’t! I can’t stand what our Country is becoming. There is no real feeling of Freedom which so many used to enjoy. I can’t stand what our once Great Nation is turning into anymore.
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