Fall is here. Apples are ripening, the days are getting shorter and we are scrambling to get everything harvested. We received rain after this very long drought, but it will not make much difference anymore this year.

We had two exciting events happening last weekend: Feast of Fields, the annual celebration where farmers and chefs co-operate to create food with the highest standards; and Picnic at the Brick Works in Toronto organized by Slow Food Toronto.

At both events, we provided samples of real Rich And Wholesome Milk. The response was overwhelming. For most people, it was almost like wine tasting. “Oh that is what real milk tastes like” was the response of many, as well as “that is how milk used to taste” . . . Rich And Wholesome. About 400 people asked for a sample and how they could have access the milk. I had to tell them that we already have a three-year waiting list but suggested that they need to get organized as a group and then work together with a farmer to develop the needed relationship in the form of a Cow Share programme. Any time I can be available to help set it up. What it takes is determination. Everybody was so much in support of this issue. Many of them stated the ongoing product safety issue from China and that here we cannot even choose our own food  because of Government overstepping its role.  

The Picnic was a wonderful exercise in fearlessly facing the police and health inspectors. Under the watchful eye of about six police officers and two health inspectors, we continued to exercise our right to choose. I even offered the police a taste, but they declined. After some intense moments, the health inspectors left. Toronto Mayor David Miller came by and told me about his upbringing in rural England and wished me good luck. He was political correct in not trying the milk, saying that he did not wanted to “mix beer and milk”.

Many many supporters wished us good luck and lots of energy. Most of the celebrity chefs came over to express their hopes that change will come.

Yes, I could see how strongly people felt about the issue “of the right to choose”.

Consumers and Farmers Unite

This is one way that we can change the present regulations.

I would like to express my thanks again to those powers that be who exercised restraint, until hopefully we have a chance to clear the issue in court. And, by the way, the pre- trial on September 7 was again postponed until October; as well, the courts have not yet found a time slot within the next 12 months to deal with our issue.

In the meantime, Health Units continue to spread intentionally misleading and wrong information, more of which is below.

Cheers Michael

 

Subject: Eastern Ont. Health Unit's bogus "bad cheese" story

Hello Folks,

What follows is a very short synopsis of the events respecting the bogus claim made the Eastern Ontario Health Unit that cheese made from un-pasteurized milk caused “dozens” of people to become ill in the latter part of May. With some modifications we will be issuing this as a press release – probably on Monday. We will also make sure that this story is on Mr. Lowell Green’s desk on Monday morning and we hope that he “picks up” on it.

If he does, please take the opportunity to phone in and let him – and every listener know – that this kind of conduct cannot be tolerated. It is not merely “unacceptable”; it is abhorrent and repugnant. If he does not make it an issue, please call in and bring it to his attention, and keep up the pressure. The argument is not whether cheese made from raw milk is safe or not…that’s a side issue, so don’t be side-tracked. The real issue is this: an official of a Public Safety Agency has intentionally misled the press and the public, and once again we have a provincial agency bullying a small, rural enterprise. I have attached the original EOHU press release.

Here is the link for the Ottawa Sun article:
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/OttawaAndRegion/2007/08/23/4439661-sun.html

Mr. Remi Levac, who lives in St Bernardin Ontario, operates a mobile cheese-making business. He visits farms across Ontario and makes cheese on-site using the farmer’s own milk. The cheese is made for the farm family’s own consumption and all clients must sign a waiver that clearly states (a) the sale and distribution of the product is prohibited, and, (b) the cheese must not be consumed for a 60 day period.

In late May Mr. Levac made cheese on a Prescott County farm, and within a day or two, one person who had consumed some of the newly-made cheese sought medical attention for a food-related illness. As is normally the case, the patient provided a list of all the foods consumed within the previous 24 hour period. The diagnosis was suspected, perhaps confirmed, as campylobacter infection, a pathogen that does appear in new cheese but can appear in a host of other food products including chicken and mayonnaise – two other food products that the patient had consumed within the time period.

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) was contacted and began an investigation. They obtained samples of the suspected cheese, which they sent for laboratory tests. The tests showed e-coli and coli form counts that were well within legal limits and NO EVIDENCE of the campylobacter pathogen. The EOHU had this information in their hands by mid-June. However, on the 16th of July the EOHU issued a press release that made the following claims:

·        That there were several cases of campylobacter infection reported to the EOHU
·        That in ALL cases the victims had eaten cheese made from un-pasteurized milk
·        The cheese was made by a mobile cheese maker from raw farm milk
·        The cheese was distributed and sold to relatives
·        Approximately two dozen people became ill
·        Eight people sought medical help
The EOHU omitted these facts:
·        That laboratory tests conducted on the suspected cheese showed NO evidence of the campylobacter pathogen
·        That the victim(s) had consumed other foodstuffs that are also known to carry the pathogen
·        How the diagnosis of campylobacter poisoning was arrived at (e.g., confirmed or suspected)
·        That the farmer, by distributing/selling the cheese (if that in fact happened) had knowingly violated the terms of the waiver
·        That the farmer and his family, by consuming the new cheese, had knowingly violated the waiver
 
It is quite apparent that the “bad cheese” story was an intentional misrepresentation of facts by the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU). The EOHU had laboratory test results in their possession that indicated that there was no evidence of campylobacter contamination in any of the suspected cheese samples, yet knowingly issued a press release throughout Ontario suggesting the exact opposite. During subsequent interviews with various representatives of the press, EOHU employees had ample opportunity to correct the misinformation, but instead chose to maintain the fiction that (a) the cheese was contaminated, and (b) many people got sick from eating it.

The coverage by local, regional and even the national press was based entirely on the EOHU Press Release and subsequent interviews with their personnel. The press should have the expectation that information provided by government agencies is unbiased, complete and true; in this case the information failed on all counts.
Mr. Levac has very legitimate concerns that his business, and therefore his livelihood, will suffer as a consequence.
It is the position of the OLA and Mr. Levac that three things must occur immediately:
· The Press Release issued by the EOHU on the 16th of July must be corrected
· The EOHU must issue a public statement explaining why the facts were misrepresented in the press release
· The EOHU employee(s) who knowingly mislad the public must be re-assigned to a position that does not involve public trust
 

This is the second time within a two-year period where provincial government agencies have attacked Mr. Levac for no valid reason. The OLA has assured Mr. Levac that any further government actions against himself or his business will be cause for a concerted, appropriate response by The Landowners.
 
Jack MacLaren, President
Ontario Landowners’ Association
613 832-3201
Jamie MacMaster, Vice-President
Ontario Landowners’ Association
613 525-3275

Name

Email

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment