Organic Pastures raw milk and cream is being recalled by the California Department of Food and Agriculture for possible Salmonella contamination. This is not the first time this dairy’s products have been recalled for bacterial contamination. Their products have been recalled for Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter contamination. Several outbreaks in the past few years have been linked to Organic Pastures products. No illnesses have been reported in this latest recall.
The state has also issued a quarantine order after they confirmed the presence of Salmonella in raw cream. All of Organic Pastures Dairy brand raw milk, raw skim cream, and raw cream labeled with a code date of May 18 is to be pulled from retail shelves. Consumers are “strongly urged” to dispose of any product in their refrigerators.
CDFA inspectors found the bacteria as a result of product testing as part of routine inspection and sample collection at the farm. This testing is done regularly on all raw milk farms in the state.
The symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning include fever, nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea that may be bloody. Symptoms usually begin 12 to 72 hours after exposure. Most people recover on their own within about a week, but some become so ill they must be hospitalized. Small children, the elderly, pregnant women, those with chronic illnesses, and people with compromised immune systems are at highest risk for severe illness with this type of infection.
