Raw Milk | Food Poisoning Bulletin

Wisconsin Appeals Court Upholds Hershberger’s Guilty Verdict

July 20, 2014 by Linda Larsen 1 Comment

The Wisconsin Court of Appeals upheld Vernon D. Hershberger's guilty verdict for violating a Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection holding border. That order prohibited the dairy farmer from selling dairy and meat from his farm without permission in the 14 days it was in force. In 2012, Hershberger was charged with four misdemeanors of violating Wisconsin's law that prohibits the sale of raw milk products. Hershberger did not have a license to produce or sell dairy products; instead, he "leased" his cows to a food club and claimed that exempted him from the law. The holding order was issued when Hershberger was released on bail. It stated that he agreed not to manufacture dairy products and no sell or distribute mail produced on his farm without a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Food Safety, News Tagged With: Court Decisions, Raw Milk

No E. coli in Recalled Dungeness Raw Cream, State Tests Show

July 3, 2014 by Carla Gillespie Leave a Comment

Dungeness Valley Creamery issued a recall on June 28 for raw cream with an expiration date of July 2 for possible E. coli contamination, but tests from the the Washington State Department of Agriculture found the product free of the bacteria which causes serious, sometimes fatal illness. A post on the company's Facebook page said, "WSDA Lab Results 'did not confirm' the presence of e. coli in our Raw Cream sample dated 7/2. Our independent recall was in 'an abundance of caution', and is thankfully no longer necessary at this time. For those customers who disposed of, returned, or still otherwise wish to exchange those products with a 7/2 best by date, we will be happy to continue to process those requests.We appreciate your support and understanding. Thank you!" Laws governing the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: News, Recalls Tagged With: E. coli, Raw Milk

Raw Milk, Cream Recalled for Possible E. coli Contamination

June 30, 2014 by Linda Larsen Leave a Comment

According to Peninsula Daily News, the Dungeness Valley Creamery in Washington state is recalling raw milk and cream because it may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria. State inspectors discovered the problem. The dairy, at 1915 Towne Road, was notified that inspectors may have found the pathogenic bacteria in samples taken from the Creamery. Any product with an expiration date of July 2, 2014 should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase for a refund. No state or federal agency has issued an alert or recall. Raw whole milk, skim milk, and cream are recalled. The products are sold at the Sequim Prairie Grange, Red Rooster Grocery, and Sunny Farms Farm Store in Sequim; Country Aire and Good to Go in Port Angeles; and the Food Co-op in Port Townsend. The products are also … [Read more...]

Filed Under: News, Recalls Tagged With: E. coli, Food Recall, Raw Milk

FDA Debunks Raw Milk Myths for Dairy Month

June 16, 2014 by Carla Gillespie Leave a Comment

June is Dairy Month so the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reminding consumers about the importance of pasteurization and debunking raw milk myths. Raw milk is milk from cows, sheep or goats that has not been pasteurized or heated for a short period of time to kill harmful bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Listeria. With the exception of certain cheeses, unpasteurized, or raw milk products intended for human consumption have been prohibited in interstate commerce since 1987. Some states allow the sale of raw milk, others allow only owners of the animals producing milk the option to drink it raw. Raw milk enthusiasts who live in states where the sale of raw milk is banned will sometimes drive to a neighboring state to purchase raw milk or form a herd … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Food Safety, News Tagged With: Raw Milk

Raw Milk Bill Defeated in Louisiana

May 26, 2014 by Linda Larsen Leave a Comment

Louisiana House Bill 1279, which would have legalized the sale of raw milk in that state, failed in the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare. Legislators had concerns about the safety of unpasteurized milk. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain opposed the bill on safety grounds. A campaign called "I Love Raw Milk" was launched in support of the bill. The state has restrictive policies on the sale of raw milk. A Senate committee vote of 4-1 killed the bill. On May 7, 2014, the House approved the bill 78-19 after it was recommended on a close vote by the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural Development. The law would have required registration of a farm of dairy, and posting signs at point of sale stating that "This produce, sold for personal use and not for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Food Safety, News Tagged With: Legislation, Raw Milk

American Academy of Pediatrics: Ban Raw Milk Sales

May 11, 2014 by Carla Gillespie 1 Comment

Raw milk sales should be banned, says the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). That view and others about the risks of raw milk for children, infants and pregnant women are included in the organization's policy statement published in the May issue of Pediatrics. The AAP joins a host of medical, scientific and public health organizations including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Medical Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the International Association for Food Protection, the National Environmental Health Association, and the World Health Association in endorsing the consumption of only pasteurized milk and milk products for pregnant women, infants, and children. The AAP supports a ban … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Food Safety, News Tagged With: Raw Milk

CDC: Raw Milk Remains an Ongoing Public Health Hazard

May 11, 2014 by Carla Gillespie 2 Comments

Raw milk remains an ongoing public health hazard, says Robert Tauxe, M.D., deputy director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases. On May 9, Tauxe sent a letter to state epidemiologists and state public health veterinarians saying because of the risks of raw milk, public health officials should consider restricting or prohibiting the sale of raw milk. Almost two years ago, Tauxe sent a nearly identical letter to state public health professionals. Both letters outline the risks associated with raw milk. For example, infections from E.coli can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which causes kidney failure. Campylobacter infections can trigger Guillain-Barré Syndrome, which causes paralysis. Between 2007 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Food Safety, News Tagged With: Raw Milk

Listeria in Raw Milk from Stap Farm in Pine Bush NY Prompts Warning

May 9, 2014 by Carla Gillespie Leave a Comment

Agriculture officials in New York have issued a warning for Stap Farm raw milk after Listeria monocytogenes was discovered in a sample during routine testing. Consumers who have this milk should not drink it as Listeria can cause serious illness or death. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the warning, but symptoms of a Listeria infection, called listeriosis, can take up to two months to develop. They include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria poses a special risk to pregnant women as it can cause miscarriage or stillbirth. Stap Farm, ocated at 426 Drexel Dr., Pine Bush, NY 1256 is owned by Robert & Stacey Stap. A sample of the milk, collected April 28, 2014, was subsequently tested by the agriculture department's Food … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Food Safety, News Tagged With: Listeria, Raw Milk

Listeria Halts Operations at Finger Lakes Farmstead Cheese

April 29, 2014 by Carla Gillespie Leave a Comment

Listeria in raw cow's milk cheese from Finger Lakes Farmstead Cheese and unsanitary conditions at its plant in Trumansburg, NY have led to a suspension of operations. On April 28, U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara of the Western District of New York entered a consent decree of permanent injunction between the United States, the company and its co-owner Nancy Taber Richards. Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne bacteria that can cause serious illness and death. No illnesses were reported in connection with Finger Lakes Farmstead, but a recent Listeria outbreak linked to soft cheese made by another company sickened eight people, killing one of them. Young children, seniors, pregnant women and others with weakened immune systems are most at risk for Listeria infections. In … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Food Safety, News Tagged With: Listeria Monocytogenes, Raw Milk

Listeria in Raw Milk From Greenfield Dairy Prompts Warning

April 19, 2014 by Carla Gillespie Leave a Comment

Raw milk from Greenfield Dairy in Middleburg, PA may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and consumers should not drink it, Pennsylvania agriculture officials are warning. Results of routine tests on a raw milk sample collected from the farm on April 8 tested positive for the bacteria. The raw milk included in the warning was sold at the on-farm retail store in half gallon glass containers with the Greenfield Dairy label dated April 18, 21, 22 and 24. It is labeled as “raw milk.” Raw milk sales at the farm have been halted by agriculture officials until two samples taken at least 24 hours apart are negative for Listeria. Illnesses have not been reported to state health officials. Symptoms of a Listeria infection, called listeriosis, usually appear within one to three weeks … [Read more...]