CANADA: Health Unit turns off tap for raw milk sales

19.jul.10
The Sault Star
Brian Kelly

Algoma Public Health quickly soured on a Bar River farmer's plans to sell raw milk for cats and dogs.
The offer of unpasteurized milk, from Diamond J Farms owner Vic Fremlin, appeared in The Sault Star about three weeks ago.
That ad, said Fremlin, wasn't supposed to run until he knew he could sell the milk for animal consumption.
There was some interest from local residents, but the health unit told Fremlin he couldn't sell the raw milk.
"I thought maybe there was a market for other peoples' animals out there, but they don't want me selling it off the farm to anybody else," he said.
:Ad ran before permission was given to sell
"It's not like it was in the olden days."
Fremlin said he did not sell any unpasteurized milk to the public.
The Grade B milk he wanted to sell was not fit for human consumption. His farm also supplies Grade AAA milk which is used for Lock City Dairies, which Fremlin also owns.
He regularly feeds his calves and his cats and dogs raw milk.
"(They're) healthier than any dog or cat you'll know," said Fremlin.
"That's good stuff for them."
Algoma Public Health released an alert about unpasteurized milk Friday afternoon.