A Raw Farm raw milk Salmonella, STEC E. coli, and Campylobacter outbreak has sickened at least 165 people in four states, according to the California Division of Communicable Disease Control. This outbreak was not publicized when it happened. The other three states have not been named. According to the preliminary results as of February 2, 204, there are 165 people sick in four states. In California, there are 162 cases in 27 local health jurisdictions. There are four multiple pathogen combinations that have sickened these patients: Salmonella Typhimurium, Campylobacter, and/or Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Twenty people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. The patient age range is from less than one year to 87 years. And illness onset dates range from … [Read more...]
Raw Milk Consumption May Put People at Risk of Avian Influenza
Raw milk consumption may put people at risk of catching Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1), according to the Oregon Health Authority. This virus, also known as the bird flu, has now started infecting dairy cattle across the country. Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., health officer and state epidemiologist at OHA, said in a statement, "We know that if H5N1 is present in the milk of infected dairy cattle, it will be killed by pasteurization. Drinking raw milk carries many health risks, and those risks may now include H5N1 infection.” The FDA has tested 297 retail milk sample from 38 states for the H5N1 virus. About 20% of those samples tested positive for viral fragments, but none contained the live infectious virus because it is destroyed through pasteurization. There are … [Read more...]
PA Apple Valley Creamery Raw Milk Sickens One With Campylobacter
Apple Valley Creamery raw milk has sickened at least one person in Pennsylvania with a Campylobacter infection, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. That dairy is located at 531 Germany Road in East Berlin, Pennsylvania. Public health officials are warning consumers to discard raw milk from Apple Valley Creamery that was sold under the Pure Pastures Dairy label. The sell by dates for this unpasteurized milk are from April 3, 2024 through May 2, 2024. The milk is packaged in quart and half gallon glass containers. Samples of the raw milk were tested by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and were positive for the pathogen. Apple Valley Creamery raw milk was sold at these locations in south central, central, and eastern counties in Pennsylvania: Adams … [Read more...]
Sunset View Creamery Raw Milk Recalled For Campylobacter
Sunset View Creamery raw milk is being recalled for possible Campylobacter jejuni contamination, according to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. One illness has been reported to the department. The dairy is located at 4970 County Road 14 in Odessa, New York, in Schuyler County. A preliminary test conducted by a sample of the unpasteurized milk collected by an inspector tested positive for the pathogen. On April 25, 2024, the producer was notified of this result. Another test that was conducted and completed on April 29, 204, confirmed the presence of Campylobacter in the raw milk. The producer is now prohibited from seling raw milk until sampling indicates that the product is not contaminated. There is no information about the person who is sick. We do not … [Read more...]
FDA Updates Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak
The FDA has updated information about the highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak (HPAI), which has spread to dairy cows. The virus can be transmitted by wild birds of domestic poultry and other animal species. Sporadic human infections have also occurs. The "highly pathogenic" definition revers to the effect on birds, not necessarily in people. The infection in cows is causing decreased lactation, low appetite, and other symptoms in cattle. Based on information that is currently available, the commercial milk supply is still safe, according to the FDA, because of the pasteurization process and the diversion of destruction of milk from sick cows. WebMD has stated that particles of the bird flu virus have been detected in pasteurized milk, but particles of the pathogen will not … [Read more...]
Big Brook Farm Raw Milk May Contain Listeria Monocytogenes
Big Brook Farm raw milk may contain Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, according to a Consumer Alert issued by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the consumption of this item. The farm is located at 6063 Weaver Road, Lee Center in Oneida County, New York. A sample of Big Brook Farm raw milk that was collected by that agency tested positive. On March 13, 2024, the producer was notified about a preliminary positive test. On March 18, 2024, further testing confirmed the presence of the pathogen in the raw milk sample. The farm is now prohibited from selling raw milk until sampling indicates that the product is no longer contaminated. If you bought any milk from Garrie A. … [Read more...]
Raw Milk E. coli Outbreak Sickens Two In Washington State
A raw milk E. coli outbreak has sickened at least two people in Washington state, according to the Washington State Department of Health. The patients got sick in mid-January and early February 2024. The patients were sickened with the same, highly related strain of Shiga toxin-producing E coli (STEC) bacteria. Both patients drank raw, or unpasteurized, milk, produced by Cozy Vale Creamery in Tenino, Washington, shortly before getting sick. The patients live in two counties: Grays Harbor and Pierce. On February 16, 2024, Cozy Vale Creamery recalled their raw milk and cream because of STEC contamination. The STEC bacteria in the milk was a different strain than the one that caused the two recent illnesses. At this time, there are no known illnesses associated with the strain found in … [Read more...]
Vulto Creamery Pleads Guilty In Connection With Listeria Outbreak
Vulto Creamery has pled guilty to one misdemeanor count of introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce in connection to a deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to that dairy's cheese in 2016 and 2017, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. In that outbreak, the soft raw milk cheese sickened at least eight people in four states, and two people died. Johannes Vulto oversaw operations at the Vulto Creamery manufacturing facility in Walton, New York, including sanitation and environmental monitoring. By entering the guilty plea, Vulto admits that between December 2014 and March 2017, they shipped adulterated cheese. Environmental swabs that were taken at the facility between July 2014 and February 2017 repeatedly tested positive for various Listeria species; … [Read more...]
Sigmon Dairy Recalls Raw Milk For Possible Listeria Contamination
Sigmon Dairy is recalling their retail raw whole milk for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination, according to news reports. No illnesses have been reported to the company to date in connection with the consumption of this product. The dairy is located in the city of Rochester, Washington. The Washington State Department of Agriculture released a news release about this possible contamination. The release states, "Listeriosis may cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. This infection may spread beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the … [Read more...]
Conoco View Dairy Raw Milk Campylobacter Outbreak in PA
A Conoco View Dairy raw milk Campylobacter outbreak in Pennsylvania has sickened at least 11 people, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Officials are warning consumers to immediately discard all of this milk. The Department ran tests after 11 reports of illness in December 2023 and January 2024 were received. Campylobacter contamination was confirmed in the dairy's products. The press release states that, "While the source of the bacteria is clear, every specific production date could not be pinpointed. All products, including those in consumers' freezers, should be discarded." The press release mentions eight several different counties where the milk was sold or dropped off at different points in the memo. The quotes are: "raw milk sold in Cumberland, … [Read more...]
