Raw milk is the suspected source of an E.coli outbreak that has sickened several people in northwest Missouri. Raw milk, or milk that has not been pasteurized, can contain E.coli and other disease-causing bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listera, Yersinia and Brucella. For that reason, the sale of raw milk is illegal in many states. In Missouri, it is legal for a farmer to sell raw milk directly to customers of the farm. A bill has been put before the Missouri Legislature to slightly expand a farmer's ability to sell raw milk, allowing a farmer to sell up to 100 gallons of raw milk or raw cream at farmers' markets. Raw milk has not been identified as the definitive source of this outbreak but has been characterized by health officials as "a possible risk … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 12 In Missouri
At least 12 people in Missouri are now part of the cantaloupe Salmonella outbreak that has killed two people, sickened more than 140 others in 21 states and hospitalized 32, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The number of confirmed cases in Missouri has increased by three since the outbreak was announced on Friday. As Food Poisoning Bulletin reported today, this outbreak is the third to be linked to cantaloupe in the last 19 months. Last year, the cantaloupe Listeria outbreak linked to Jensen Farms in Holly, Colo., sickened at least 146 people and more than 30 people died. “We need appropriate control measures and the industry hasn’t delivered,’’ national food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker said in a press release today. “How many more people have … [Read more...]
