An E. coli outbreak associated with raw milk that occurred in March 2016 was announced at the Virginia Department of Health Field Epidemiology Seminar, held on June 2, 2017 in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Daniel Ferrell, MPH, District Epidemiologist for the Rappahannock-Rapidan Health district presented the information. In March 2016, a doctor notified the Virginia Department of Health of four hospitalized patients who were diagnosed with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections. Two of those patients developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). All of the patients consumed raw milk from a farm in the Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District as part of a herd-share program. Officials continued to receive more report of patients with STEC infections or HUS who had also consumed raw … [Read more...]
CDPH Releases Info about 2015 Raw Milk Campylobacter Outbreak
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has released an investigation about the 2015 Campylobacter outbreak associated with Claravale Farm brand raw milk. In March 2015, the CDPH Infectious Diseases Brand identified three patients who live in Santa Cruz County with Campylobacter infections. All three patients reported consuming Claravale brand raw milk before they got sick. Eventually, seven total case patients were identified. One lived in Marin County, one in Orange County, and five in Santa Cruz county. Two of those patients were hospitalized. Illness onset dates ranged from February 16 to March 25, 2017. Campylobacter isolates were collected from three of the patients and analyzed by pulsed field-gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Those isolates all had the same primary … [Read more...]
Raw Milk Products Cause 840 Times More Illness Than Pasteurized Milk
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Emerging Infectious Diseases report for June 2017, unpasteurized milk products cause 840 times more illness and 45 times more hospitalizations than pasteurized milk products. Only about 3.2% of the population consume raw milk, and 1.6% of consumers eat raw cheese, but those products cause 96% of the illnesses linked to contaminated dairy products in this country. The number of states that allow raw milk sales increased to 30 in 2011, from 21 in 2004. Consumption of unpasteurized dairy products is becoming more popular, and this raises public health concerns. The bacteria in these products that have caused serious illness and death include E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Listeria monocytogenes. This increase … [Read more...]
Listeria Warning for New York Winters Grass Farm Raw Milk
The New York Stated Department of Agriculture and Markets is warning consumers not to drink unpasteurized milk from the Winters Grass Farm in Saquiot in Oneida County. Officials have discovered that a sample of the raw milk collected by a food safety inspector was contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. On March 16, 2017, the producer was notified of a preliminary positive test result for Listeria. Winter Grass Farm immediately and voluntarily suspended sales of the product. Then, on March 22, 2017, the presence of the pathogenic bacteria was confirmed in the raw milk sample. The farm is located at 9104 Butler Road in Sauquoit. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem, but the illness caused by this bacteria, listeriosis, can take up to … [Read more...]
Cozy Vale Creamery Recalls Raw Milk for E. coli
Cozy Vale Creamery of Tenino, Washington is recalling raw milk because it may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria. Sampling conducted by the Washington State Department of Agriculture found the toxin-producing E. coli bacteria in the product. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the consumption of this product. Cozy Vale raw whole milk with best by dates of 2/27 through 3/4 are being recalled. The milk is sold in quart, half gallon, and one gallon plastic jugs. It was sold at the on-farm store, at one drop off location, and in several retail stores throughout Western Washington state. If you purchased this product, do not drink it. Return it to the place of purchase for a refund, or throw it away in a sealed or double bagged package. Raw milk is legal to buy and … [Read more...]
Virginia Raw Milk Bill Fails in House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates voted against House Bill 2030, which would have legalized the sale of raw milk. The vote was 6 to 15. The bill would have allowed the sale of unpasteurized milk along with other uninspected and unregulated foods at farmers markets, at producer's homes, and on farms. The Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services both have pages on their web sites that warn against the consumption of raw milk. The page on the DOH site answers myths about raw milk and sets the record straight. For instance, the statement "Pasteurization kills all of the nutrients and enzymes present in raw milk," is debunked with this statement, "Pasteurization of milk does not significantly change its nutritional value. You will … [Read more...]
Montana Legislator Introduces Raw Milk Bill
A legislator in Montana has introduced a bill that would make raw milk sales legal in that state. HB 325 creates exemptions for raw milk products. The bill is scheduled for a hearing on February 9, 2017. The bill would legalize herd and animal share programs, and would allow the sale of raw milk to consumers on the farm. A herd share is where people buy shares in cows on a farm, then they receive the products from that animal. Jim Murphy, Bureau Chief of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services testified against another raw milk bill on January 28, 2015. He said, "when [our department] examines the well documented risks of consuming raw milk and compare those with the limited benefits, we cannot support making a product that can be potentially harmful more … [Read more...]
ND Bill Would Permit Raw Milk Sales; Prohibit Warning Labels
A new bill introduced to the North Dakota Legislative Assembly's Joint Agriculture Committee would not only permit the sale of raw milk in that state, but would prohibit any warning labels on the product and shift the risk burden to consumers. House Bill No. 1433 is supported by Representatives Luke Simmons, Rick C. Becker, Daniel Johnston, Dwight Kiefert, Jeffery Magrum, Kim Koppelman,, Christopher Olson, Nathan Toman, and Mike Schatz. Senators Oley Larsen and Jordan Kannianen also support it. The milk must be sold directly from the producer to the consumer and be only for home consumption. The milk can be sold at a farm, ranch, farmers market, farm stand, or home-based kitchen. The producer must tell the consumer that the milk is not "certified, labeled, licensed, packaged, … [Read more...]
Camel Milk Company Warned Over Health Claims
The FDA sent a letter to Desert Farms of Santa Monica, California, telling them that the claims they are making about the products they produce classify them as drugs, and they cannot sell them through interstate commerce. The FDA has threatened to seize products and may seek an injunction against Walid Abdul-Wahab and his company if changes are not made. The company's Facebook page posts therapeutic claims that state the milk products are "intended for use in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease." The products in question for sale are Raw Camel Milk (Fresh); Raw Camel Milk (Frozen); Raw Camel Milk Kefir (Fresh); Raw Camel Milk Kefir (Frozen); Pasteurized Camel Milk (Fresh); Pasteurized Camel Milk (Frozen); and Raw Camel Milk 1st Colostrum (Frozen); Raw Camel … [Read more...]
Top 10 Food Poisoning Stories of 2016
These are the top 10 food stories of 2016. We chose them based on the impact they had on the food world and on the people who were sickened in outbreaks, and on how they changed how we look at our food supply. Many of these outbreaks were uncovered by the PulseNet system, a national database of food poisoning illnesses. All of these outbreaks serve as a reminder that everyone needs to be careful about the foods they eat, about where they eat foods, and the importance of thorough handwashing. And this list is a reminder that food companies need to be held accountable when the foods they produce make people sick. 10. Petting Zoo Outbreaks Petting zoo outbreaks became common a few years ago, when a huge outbreak sickened more than 100 people at the Cleveland County Fair in North … [Read more...]
