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Letter to Dr. Karim Kurji #2 |
Associate Medical Officer of Health
York Region Health Department
P.O. Box 147
17250 Yonge Street
Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 6Z1
T: (905) 895-4511
F: (905) 895-3166
Dr. Kurji, I am trying to weed out the actual facts from the rhetoric and emotion on both sides of this raw milk issue. So far I have not been able to find any supportive scientific data that your colleagues are using besides the 1930s statements. As a scientist, I don’t think you would make conclusive statements on such a complex topic based on 70 year old contextual data (or not personally checking the source of your material). Please fully disclose all your supporting data and facts to the public. Thank you. I am even willing to come to your office to review your scientific data. Please let me know how and where I can access this information you are relying on.
The key words I have seen in the media reports on the cases where your colleagues have quoted on the e coli illnesses resulting from raw milk are actually “may have been a result of raw milk” not 100% confirmed (the word “may” is not a scientific statement). The recent case about 2 years ago (often quoted) when the mother was interviewed, was adamant that it was not the raw milk but poorly cooked meat from a barbeque they were at. In the spirit of accuracy and truth I respectfully ask that you research this thoroughly and independently before making public statements. (Also this woman did not obtain milk from Mr. Schmidt, an important fact when inducing fear in the public through your office.) Full disclosure of facts by the Health Dept. would be appreciated by us out here in the public who are trying to get to the truth.
If you have any clear substantiation of any of your claims, why not post publicly for all to review including your fellow scientists. To make claims about salmonella and e coli you must have some independent regional, recent data and tests to back your claims. Please make these available.
Also please take a moment to review Mr. Schmidt’s testing procedures when instigating/supporting an attack and raid on him and his farm. I invite you to see his quality control on his farm which I believe exceeds govt standards; Mr. Schmidt is a very nice gentleman and cooperative. I can supply his phone number if you need it.
Please take care in being truthful when you make public statements. Omissions, or partial information (where one can be misled) is a not being honest and I am pretty sure that you as an individual and public servant, aspire towards honesty and not deception. Dr Kurji, increase the public confidence level in you and your office by reevaluating your current approach and as a scientist take an independent thorough look at this situation (which to be fair would have to include a first hand interview and review of Mr. Schmidt’s operation) and then report your findings, rather than just repeating what appears to be outdated rhetoric.
Thank you, looking forward to your response
Sincerely,
Bob Walberg
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