The South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) reports they found Campylobacter bacteria in a sample of raw milk from Black Hills Milk in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. Raw milk is unpasteurized milk, and has been linked to five food poisoning outbreaks this year, including one linked to Organic Pastures Dairy in California.
SDDA advises consumers that raw milk purchased from that farm may contain Campylobacter, a bacteria that can cause serious illness and infection. Symptoms of a Campylobacter infection include diarrhea that can be bloody, nausea, lethargy, and vomiting, and can lead to complications such as Guillain-Barré Syndrome that can cause paralysis.
The milk was sold at a retail outlet in Spearfish, Black Hills Farmers Market at Founder’s Park in Rapid City, and other locations in the Black Hills. If you purchased this milk, discard it or return it to the place of purchase. Pasteurized milk that is properly handled, bottled, sealed, and refrigerated, is very unlikely to contain disease-causing bacteria. Raw milk sales in South Dakota are legal with a permit.
Linda Larsen has written 28 cook books. She worked for the Pillsbury company in their test kitchens and for the Pillsbury Bake-Off. She holds a degree with High Distinction in Food Science from the University of Minnesota.
Fred Pritzker is a food safety advocate and attorney. He represents people sickened by contaminated food.
By submitting a comment, you are contacting PritzkerOlsen, P.A. An attorney may contact you to ask if you would like a free consultation regarding your foodborne illness.