Five raw milk outbreaks occurring at the same time this fall highlight the inherent risks of this product. Raw milk is unpasteurized, that is, it is not heat treated to kill dangerous pathogens such as E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Brucella, Campylobacter, and Cryptosporidium. The issue is that a cow's udders are close to the anus. And ruminant animals such as cows can harbor pathogens and not appear sick. The pathogens are excreted in feces and can easily contaminate the udders and milk. All together, these outbreaks have sickened at least 51 people. And since the multipliers for Salmonella and Campylobacter alone are around 30, that means there could be 1500 people sick. The Outbreaks These outbreaks occurred in September and October, 2023. Two of the outbreaks … [Read more...]
Wyoming Raw Milk Outbreak Sickens Four Children, One Adult
A Wyoming raw milk outbreak has sickened at least four children and one adult, according to news reports and the Wyoming Department of Health. The patients are sick with either E. coli or Campylobacter infections. Two children have been hospitalized. The raw milk was purchased through the Slow Food in the Tetons online market on either September 14 or September 21, 2023. Public health officials have traced the illnesses to the consumption of raw milk or raw milk products. The state did not identify the seller at this time. The patients live in Teton and Lincoln counties. Slow Food in the Tetons executive Director Scott Steen told the Jackson Hole News & Guide that the nonprofit organization stopped product sales after they were told about these illnesses. A press release from … [Read more...]
Foodborne Illness is Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels
Foodborne illness is back to pre-pandemic levels for some pathogens, according to research published in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) for the week of June 30, 2023. The incidences that were higher were infections caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, Yersinia, Vibrio, and cyclopsora. Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, and Listeria illness levels did not change. In other words, progress in reducing enteric infection levels was not observed in 2022. The report states that collaboration among food growers, processors, retail stores, restaurants, and regulators is needed to reduce pathogen contamination during poultry slaughter and to prevent contamination of leafy greens. During the pandemic, foodborne … [Read more...]
Raw Farm Raw Milk Recalled in California For Campylobacter
Raw Farm raw milk is being recalled in California for possible Campylobacter contamination. The milk is produced and packaged by Raw Farm LLC of Fresno County, California. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the consumption of this unpasteurized milk. The farm is located at 7221 South Jameson Avenue in Fresno. The recall and quarantine order was announced by California State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones after Campylobacter was found in the farm's packaged whole raw milk. The milk was sampled and tested by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Routine sampling conducted at the farm found the pathogen. The recalled product is Raw Farm Whole Raw Milk that is packaged in half gallon (64 ounce) and gallon (128 ounce) plastic jugs. The code date … [Read more...]
High Winds Increase Campylobacter Prevalence in Chicken Flocks
A study published in the journal Animals, by Washington State University, has found that high winds increase Campylobacter prevalence in outdoor chicken flocks. About 28% of individual chickens had the pathogen at the open environment farms in the study. And organic and free-range chicken farms had the same problem. Campylobacter is the largest single cause of foodborne illness in the United States. Co-lead author Olivia Smith, a recent Washington State University Ph.D. graduate in the School of Biological Sciences said in a statement, "Farms need to be aware of the risk. These environmental factors are influencing if the poultry are going to have foodborne pathogens, so farmers need to be aware of what's around them. If there's a lot of wind and if they're in really agricultural … [Read more...]
Safer Food Choices For Those at Risk For Food Poisoning
Every month there is at least one food recall about a potentially dangerous food in the United States. These recalls are for foods that may be contaminated with E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, cyclospora, and Campylobacter. Unfortunately, some foods are inherently risky because of the way they are grown or prepared. While the general public certainly is at risk for illness from these foods, there are some people who can become seriously ill if they are infected. There are safer food choices for anyone who is at high risk for food poisoning complications. People at higher risk for serious complications from food poisoning include the very young, the elderly, pregnant women, people with chronic health problems such as diabetes, and anyone with a compromised immune system. … [Read more...]
Study Confirms that Raw Milk Is Linked to Foodborne Illness
A new study has confirmed that raw milk is linked to foodborne illness. During the time period of 2013 to 2018, 75 outbreaks that caused 675 illnesses were linked to unpasteurized milk. Of these illnesses, almost half were among children and teenagers aged o to 19 years. Given that the consumption of raw milk is low in this country, with only about 1 to 2% of the adult population buying it, these numbers are shocking. The study points out that almost 80% of those outbreaks occurred in states where the sale of raw milk is allowed. Raw milk and raw milk products are a public health challenge in the United States. And laws that encourage availability of unpasteurized milk are associated with more illnesses and outbreaks. Raw milk can be contaminated with many different pathogens, … [Read more...]
Valley Milk Simply Bottled Goat Milk Recalled For Campylobacter
Valley Milk Simply Bottled goat milk is being recalled for possible Campylobacter contamination. The milk is raw, or unpasteurized. It is the subject of a statewide recall and quarantine order announced by California State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones. The quarantine order follows the confirmed detection of the pathogen in the farm's packaged raw whole goat milk that was sampled and tested by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The order applies to Valley Milk Simply Bottled Raw Goat Milk and DESI MILK Raw goat Milk that is distributed in half gallon (64 ounce) plastic jugs. The code date stamped on the containers is OCT 21 2022 through OCT 31 2022. Consumers are strongly urged to dispose of any of these products they may have purchased. Retailers are ordered to … [Read more...]
Valley Milk Simply Bottled Sheep Milk Recalled For Campylobacter
Valley Milk Simply Bottled Sheep Milk is being recalled in California for possible Campylobacter contamination. This is raw, or unpasteurized, sheep's milk. The milk is subject to a statewide recall and quarantine order by the state of California. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the consumption of this product. Lab tests confirmed the detection of the pathogen Campylobacter jejuni in the farm's packaged raw whole sheep milk. The California Department of Food and Agriculture conducted the testing. The recalled milk is Valley Milk Simply Bottled Sheep Milk that is distributed in half gallon (64 ounce) plastic jugs. It is labeled as "Valley Milk Simply Bottled Raw Sheep Milk." The recall order applies to milk that has expiration date codes of SEP 28 2022 … [Read more...]
What Are Common Food Poisoning Pathogen Incubation Periods?
Every time there is an outbreak and the cause or pathogen is not immediately apparent, investigators have several clues they can use to help them solve it. One is the incubation period, of the time between when a person eats contaminated food and they start getting sick. These facts are complicated by the fact that most people think the last thing they ate made them sick, which is often not the case. What are common food poisoning pathogen incubation periods? All pathogens have different incubation periods that can range from hours to days or even weeks and months. While there is always a range, these incubation periods are true across all outbreaks. Common Food Poisoning Pathogen Incubation Periods Bacillus cereus can cause illness especially in foods that have been sitting out … [Read more...]
