A possible Campylobacter outbreak in McHenry County, Illinois has sickened at least eight people, according to a McHenry County press release. Patients got sick between August 17 and August 30, 2022. That number is four times more cases compared to the previous two weeks, and more than three times more cases in August compared to July 2022. No common source of infection has been identified at this time. Although Campylobacter is the most common cause of diarrhea in the United States, outbreaks, which are defined as two or more unrelated people sickened by the same bacterial strain, from this pathogen are relatively rare. In 2021, there was a Campylobacter outbreak in Washington state linked to Dungeness Creamery raw milk that sickened at least five people. And in 2020, a … [Read more...]
What Foods Are Commonly Associated with Listeria Outbreaks?
Given the two mystery Listeria monocytogenes outbreaks the government is currently investigating, it is a good idea to know what foods are commonly associated with Listeria monocytogenes outbreaks? This deadly infection has severe consequences; many people who contract it require hospitalization. If you are at higher risk for complications from this infection, you should think about avoiding these foods. Those who are at higher risk include the elderly, the very young, anyone with a chronic illness such as diabetes, anyone with a compromised immune system, and pregnant women. Most people who are sickened with this infection are older, have a chronic illness, or are pregnant; 90% of patients fall into those categories. Others who contract this infection rarely become seriously … [Read more...]
Raw Milk Is Not a Substitute for Powdered Infant Formula
Raw milk is not a substitute for powdered infant formula, according to experts at Cornell University. With many parents desperate for the formula to feed infants and children with special dietary needs after Abbott Nutrition's plant in Sturgis, Michigan was shut down for Cronobacter contamination, there is a lot of bad advice popping up online. Parents are urged not to make homemade formula, which does not have the nutrition infants need. And never feed infants raw milk. Raw milk can be, and has been, contaminated with pathogens that include E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter, Brucella, and Salmonella. In fact, while only 1% of consumers drink raw milk, raw milk causes 70% of milk outbreaks. Raw milk is especially risky when given to any person at high risk for … [Read more...]
Hawthorne Valley Association Raw Milk Recalled For Possible Listeria
Hawthorne Valley Association raw milk in New York is being recalled for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination, according to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the consumption of this unpasteurized milk. The Association is located at 327 Route 21C in Ghent, New York in Columbia County. A sample of the milk that was collected by an inspector tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The producer was notified of a presumptive positive test on May 5, 2022, and testing concluded on May 12, 2022 confirmed the presence of this pathogen. The producer is prohibited from selling raw milk until further sampling indicate that the product is free from harmful bacteria. Pasteurization of milk kills … [Read more...]
Miller Dairy Farm Raw Milk in New York Recalled For Possible Listeria
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is recalling Miller Dairy Farm raw milk for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Thomas Miller doing business as Miller Dairy Farm is located at 51 Transport Lane in Pine Island, New York in Orange County. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the consumption of this product. A sample of the raw milk that was collected by an inspector was found to be contaminated with the pathogen. The producer was notified of a preliminary positive on April 21, 2022, and the confirmation of the finding was issued on April 29, 2022. The producer is now prohibited from selling raw milk until sampling indicates the product is free from the bacteria. Any consumers who bought raw milk from Miller Dairy Farm should … [Read more...]
Swan Bros. Raw Milk Listeria Outbreak Allegedly Sickens 10
A possible Swan Bros. raw milk Listeria outbreak has allegedly sickened 10 people in Missouri and Oklahoma, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed in the District Court of Rogers County in the state of Oklahoma on January 21, 2022. Swan Bros. recalled their raw milk products in July 2021 for possible Listeria monocytogenes after testing by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services revealed the presence of that pathogen in the milk on July 6, 2021. The dairy posted a notice on its Facebook page on July 6, 2021 about that recall. The plaintiff, Roy Reese, bought two gallons of raw milk from the dairy in Oklahoma in June 2021 and brought them back to his home in Missouri. The plaintiff's wife Waunita drank the raw milk and got sick later that month. She was taken to … [Read more...]
Valley Milk Simply Bottled Raw Goat Milk Recalled For Campylobacter
Valley Milk Simply Bottled raw goat milk is being recalled in California because it may be contaminated with Campylobacter bacteria, according to a press release from the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The milk is also the subject of a statewide quarantine order by California State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones. The dairy is located in Stanislaus County. The quarantine order was filed after officials confirmed detection of the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni in the farm's packaged raw whole goat milk. No illnesses have been reported to the company or to government officials in connection with the consumption of this raw milk product. The order applies to "Valley Milk Simply Bottled Raw Goat Milk" that is distributed in half gallon (64 ounce) plastic jugs. The code … [Read more...]
Pennsylvania Camp Yersinia Outbreak in 2019 Linked to Pasteurized Milk
A Pennsylvania camp Yersinia outbreak in 2019 was linked to pasteurized milk that was produced and pasteurized at a small local dairy in the northeastern part of the state. Cases occurred in campers, camp staff, and community members who were not affiliated with the camp. One hundred nine people were sickened, and seven people were hospitalized. This was only the sixth Yersinia enterocolitica outbreak reported worldwide in association with pasteurized milk. Four of these outbreaks were at small dairies conducting on-site pasteurization. Five clinical isolates from camp members, two from community members, and nine isolates from unpasteurized milk from the dairy were indistinguishable using whole genome sequencing. The risk for yersinosis among camp staff who drank the dairy's … [Read more...]
Swan Bros Dairy Raw Milk Recalled in Oklahoma For Possible Listeria
Swan Bros Dairy raw milk is being recalled in Oklahoma because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The detection of Listeria is confirmed. This is a statewide recall. Anyone who has purchased or received raw milk products from Swan Bros Dairy is strongly urged to dispose of it. One person has tested positive for the bacterial infection from these products. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry found the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in a sample collected from the dairy. The raw milk products were sold in plastic half-gallons, gallons, and pint containers directly from the Swan Bros Dairy in Claremore, Oklahoma. The recalled products include raw 2% milk, raw skim milk, and raw heavy cream sold in pints. Public health officials are … [Read more...]
Hawaii Raw Goat Milk Embargo in Effect Against Retail Stores
A Hawaii raw goat milk embargo is in effect because the product is allegedly being sold by food retailers and in pet supply stores. It is illegal to sell raw milk for human consumption in Hawaii. The government is issuing cease and desist orders to those facilities that may be selling unpasteurized goat milk. These raw milk products are not safe for humans consumption. Pet stores or any other retailer that has raw milk in their possession must remove it from sale immediately and destroy it or return the milk to their supplier. Fines for disobeying this embargo can be up to $10,000 per day. As of July 1, 2021, there were nearly 20 Oahu pet store that were selling the unpasteurized goat milk product, according to the DOH notice. The health department is inspecting stores to try to … [Read more...]
