An E. coli outbreak linked to raw milk has sickened at least two children in Michigan. The E. coli O157:H7 cases, which were reported in Oakland and Wayne counties, underscore the dangers of consuming unpasteurized dairy products, state health officials said. Laws governing the sale of raw milk vary from state to state. In Michigan, it is not legal to sell raw milk at the retail level, but it can by obtained through membership in a herd or cow share program, which are not inspected or regulated under Michigan dairy laws. “The public should be aware that raw milk and other unpasteurized dairy products have not been heat-treated and, therefore, pose a potentially serious risk to human health,” said Dr. Eden Wells, chief medical executive for Michigan Department of Health and Human … [Read more...]
Campylobacter E. coli Raw Milk Outbreak Ends With 12 Sick in Idaho
Idaho health officials believe a raw milk outbreak that began in early October has ended after sickening 12 people. Two people were hospitalized. Four people who drank raw milk from Natural Farm Fresh Dairy in Kuna developed E. coli O157: H7 infections and four people developed Campylobacter infections. Four others had symptoms consistent with food poisoning. The Campylobacter and E. coli cases, in Ada and Canyon counties, were reported by the Idaho Department of Health on October 20. No new illness have been reported in 10 days. The Idaho Department of Agriculture did not find bacteria in the milk it tested. However, milk it tested was not from the batch that made people sick. Agriculture officials inspected the dairy Tuesday morning. The dairy, which suspended operations during … [Read more...]