Public health officials in Utah are investigating an outbreak of Campylobacter illnesses associated with the consumption of raw milk. So far, 45 people have been diagnosed with the infection. Those people said they consumed raw milk the week before they got sick. Cases have been reported from Cache, Davis, Morgan, Salt Lake, Utah, and Weber counties. Two cases have been reported from out of state residents who live in California and Idaho. The illness onset dates range from May 9, 2014 to July 21, 2014. The case patients range in age from 2 to 74 years. All of the cases are linked to the consumption of raw milk or cream purchased at Ropelato Dairy in Weber County. The license of that dairy to sell raw milk was suspended on August 4, 2014 after tests of raw milk samples at the farm … [Read more...]
Raw Milk Farmer Dodges Justice
Michael Hartman, a farmer from Gibbon, Minnesota sells raw milk. He sells it without a license and seemingly without worry about causing another outbreak like the one four years ago that gave 12 people who drank his milk E.coli poisoning. Hartman made a plea deal to get charges related to the outbreak dropped, but that doesn't change the facts. The specific strain of E. coli0157:H7 taken from those poisoned by the milk was also found in cows and at multiple sites at the Hartmann farm. The genetic fingerprint for the that strain of E. coli had never been previously found in Minnesota. The October 2012 plea deal stipulated that Hartman comply with state licensing and labeling laws that forbid the off-farm sale of raw milk and put him on unsupervised probation for six months. He was … [Read more...]
E. coli in Raw Milk Sickens 2 in MI
E. coli O157:H7 in raw milk produced by an Ottawa County cow share has sickened two people in West Michigan, health authorities say. A 6 year old girl and a 31 year old woman both reported drinking unpasteurized milk from the cow share before becoming ill. The sale of raw milk is not legal in Michigan, so raw milk enthusiasts establish cow share programs as a way around the law. Cow share or herd shares are not licensed by the state and not inspected. Health departments from three counties, Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon issued a joint press release about the illnesses. Pasteurized products are the safer alternatives to raw, health officials said in the statement. Pregnant women, infants, small children, the elderly, and people with chronic illnesses are at high risk for foodborne … [Read more...]
Listeria Found in Raw Milk Sold in Brookings, SD
Listeria has been found in a sampling of raw milk from Jerseydale Farms near Brookings, S.D., according to the South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA). The agency is warning consumers to discard raw milk recently purchased from this farm as it could contain Listeria, a bacteria that causes serious, sometimes life-threatening illness. Those most at risk for Listeria infection, called listeriosis, are pregnant women, young children, seniors and individuals with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. A person with listeriosis may have a headache, stiff neck, fever, muscle aches and sometimes nausea or diarrhea. Confusion, loss of balance or convulsions can also occur. Rules governing the sale of raw milk vary from state … [Read more...]
1 in 6 Raw Milk Drinkers Gets Food Poisoning, Study Says
One of every six people who drinks raw milk gets food poisoning, according to a new study from officials at the Minnesota Department of Health. That percentage is much higher than the number of cases reported in relation to outbreaks associated with raw milk and, researchers say, it's increasing even as some states push to relax raw milk regulations. To get a better idea of the number of illnesses associated with raw milk, (milk that has not been pasteurized) researchers looked at a decade of data on sporadic, or non outbreak-related, illnesses from food poisoning bacteria and parasites reported in Minnesota, one of 30 states where the sale of raw milk is legal. They found that, from 2001 to 2010, 530 people or about 3.7 percent of those sickened by food poisoning bacteria such as … [Read more...]
McBee Dairy Farm in TN Linked to E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak
The Tennessee Department of Health has announced that the strain of E. coli O157:H7 that sickened nine children has been matched to animal waste collected at the McBee dairy farm in Mascot, Tennessee that produced the milk. This is a DNA match that proves that the pathogenic bacteria that made the children sick came from the farm. Five of the nine children sickened in this outbreak were hospitalized. Three of them developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious complication of a shiga toxin-producting E. coli bacteria that can cause kidney failure, strokes, seizures, and death. The investigation conducted by public health officials included an on-site inspection of the farm, interviews of the 88 households that purchased milk from the farm, and lab analysis of milk and other … [Read more...]
In Canada, Gort’s Raw Milk Cheese Deadly E. coli Outbreak Update
The Public Health Agency of Canada says that now fourteen cases of E. coli O157:H7 are associated with contaminated raw milk cheese products manufactured by Gort's Gouda Cheese Farm in Salmon Arm, British Columbia. There are four people who are ill in British Columbia; eight in Alberta; one in Saskatchewan; and one in Quebec. One person in British Columbia has died as a result of this infection. Ill persons started getting sick between mid-July and early September. Some of Gort's raw milk cheeses have been recalled as a result of this outbreak. The statement said that "there is currently no indication of widespread risk to Canadians. However, E. coli O157:H7 can pose a serious public health risk. Additional cases of illness may be identified and linked to this outbreak in the … [Read more...]
Update on E. Coli Gort’s Raw Milk Cheese Outbreak in Canada
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has updated the recall on Gort's Gouda Cheese Farm raw milk cheese products that may contain E. coli O157:H7 bacteria. Several illnesses and one death associated with these products have been reported. There may be recalls of more products as the investigation continues. Now, Gort's Gouda Cheese Farm Mild Gouda Cheese has been recalled, in addition to the 14 other cheeses that were recalled earlier this week. Lot codes 122 to 138 are affected by this recall. One of the problems with this recall is that some products packages may not have a lot code or indicate that the cheese was made with raw milk because they were sold from deli counters without a label. The cheese was sold at certain retail stores in British Columbia and through internet sales from … [Read more...]
Raw Milk Outbreak, Raw Cheese Recall
Raw dairy products were the source of one recall and one outbreak this week. French cheese made with raw milk was recalled for possible Listeria contamination in 19 states and Washington DC. Consumers who have this cheese should not eat it. Although no illnesses have been reported in association with the recall, Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections. Young children, frail or elderly people, pregnant women and others with weakened immune systems are at particular risk. Among pregnant women, Listeria can cause miscarriages and stillbirths. In Pennsylvania, raw milk produced by The Family Cow farm has, for the third time in less than two years, been the source of a Campylobacter outbreak. At least two illnesses were reported. Farm owner Edwin Shank's response to these … [Read more...]
Campylobacter Raw Milk #3 For Family Cow in PA
For the third time in 20 months, a raw milk Campylobacter outbreak has been associated with The Family Cow farm in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Two people who consumed raw milk from the farm have confirmed cases of Campylobacter infection, called campylobacteriosis, according to Pennsylvania health officials. The farm has stopped selling raw milk while the investigation is pending. In January 2012, the farm was the source of the largest raw milk outbreak in Pennsylvania history. Several people were hospitalized. In May, of this year raw milk for the farm was again linked to an outbreak. Campylobacter in the raw milk was the source of each outbreak. After receiving a complaint from a consumer, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture went to the farm on 3854 Olde Scotland Road and … [Read more...]
