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Minn. Dairy Farmer Faces Contempt Hearing

WORTHINGTON, Minn. (AP) -- A Minnesota dairy farmer accused of selling contaminated raw milk that made 15 people sick is due in court on a contempt charge.

State agriculture officials say Michael Hartmann has ignored a court-approved embargo on his food. He has a court hearing set for Monday.

The state has cited Hartmann with a long list of violations. He has said his products haven't sickened anyone, and he denied "knowingly or intentionally" violating a court order.

The state Health Department says it has linked at least 15 illnesses to his unpasteurized milk and other products.

Minnesota Public Radio says the state placed an embargo on Hartmann's products last summer. After agriculture officials traced a second round of illnesses to his products they found that the embargoed inventory had disappeared from Hartmann's farm.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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