California State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Whiteford has ordered a statewide recall and quarantine of raw milk, raw nonfat milk and raw cream produced by Claravale Farm of San Benito County. The action is tied to a preliminary positive finding of Campylobacter in raw cream.
In addition, the state is conducting an investigation of reported clusters of Campylobacter infection where consumption of raw milk products may have occurred. Last month, Food Poisoning Bulletin reported on a possible investigation into the dairy.
Consumers are strongly urged to dispose of any Claravale product remaining in their refrigerators with code dates of “MAR 27” and earlier. Meanwhile, retailers are to pull those products immediately from their shelves, according to the state order.
Claravale Farm, a Jersey cow dairy which is licensed by the state of California to produce raw milk, voluntarily ceased distribution of its products earlier this week. The stoppage of distribution included goat milk, as well.
“No illnesses have been definitively attributed to the products at this time”, the California Department of Food and Agriculture said in a press release.
Symptoms of campylobacteriosis include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. Most people with an infection recover on their own. However, in some persons with compromised immune systems, it can cause a serious, life-threatening infection. A small percentage of people may have joint pain and swelling after infection. In addition, a rare disease called Guillain-Barre syndrome that causes weakness and paralysis can occur several weeks after the initial illness.
There are several forms of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), making the range of symptoms wide as well, but some of the more commonly encountered effects are limb and respiratory weakness, and loss of reflexes. Miller Fisher syndrome is a subtype of GBS.
