Farmer faces new charges over raw milk sales
The southern Minnesota dairy farmer at the center of a controversy over raw milk sales faces new criminal charges.
Michael Hartmann faces two misdemeanor charges related to a police stop Dec. 4 in Hennepin County. A state trooper pulled Hartmann's delivery truck over because he could not see the rear license plate.
The criminal complaint says Hartmann was evasive about the truck's contents. The trooper inspected the vehicle and found milk, cheese and empty egg cartons. A state agriculture department analysis showed the milk and cheese were unpasteurized. Hartmann was charged with the sale of unpasteurized milk and selling improperly labeled cheese. Hartmann pleaded guilty last October to similar charges.
Minnesota law permits the sale of unpasteurized products only on the farm where the food is produced. Hartmann declined to comment.
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