The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is recalling raw milk and cream produced by Organic Pastures Dairy of Fresno County again. This time the recall is for possible Salmonella contamination. Testing confirmed the presence of the pathogenic bacteria in raw whole milk and raw skim milk. No illnesses have been reported at this time.
Under the recall, Organic Pastures Dairy brand raw milk, raw skim milk, and raw cream labeled with a USE BY date of JUN 01 2016 is to be pulled immediately from store shelves. Consumers are strongly urged to dispose of any product remaining in their refrigerators and not to consume them.
CDFA inspectors found the bacteria as a result of product testing conducted in a follow to a previous recall order on May 9, 2016. Salmonella bacteria were found in the products then too.
Symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning include fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea that may be bloody. Symptoms usually begin 12 to 72 hours after exposure. Most people get better in about a week, but some, especially small children, the elderly, pregnant women, those with compromised immune systems, and people with chronic illnesses, may become so sick they must be hospitalized.
Organic Pastures has had a long history of product recalls and outbreaks. An E. coli outbreak linked to the dairy’s products sickened at least six children in February 2016. The products were recalled in October 2015 for Campylobacter contamination. There was an outbreak in 2012 that sickened at least ten people. In May 2012, a statewide quarantine on raw milk products was imposed for Campylobacter contamination. And in December 2011, their raw milk sickened at least five children; three developed hemolytic uremic syndrome.
