Udder Milk, a home delivery company in New Jersey, has been ordered to stop illegally selling raw milk in that state by the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH). Officials were notified on October 23, 2017 that a New Jersey woman had been sickened with a Brucella infection; the strain was identified as RB51. She has since recovered. Brucella RB51 is a rare type of that pathogenic bacteria that can cause serious illness. Government officials are investigating to see if her illness is connected to another Brucella outbreak linked to K-Bar Dairy in Texas that occurred earlier this year. This summer, people in seven states were reportedly sickened with symptoms of a Brucella infection, although most were not formally diagnosed. The USDA and CDC are joining the New Jersey DOH to … [Read more...]
K-Bar Dairy Allowed to Sell Raw Milk Again After Brucella Outbreak
K-Bar Dairy in Wise County, Texas, is allowed to sell raw milk again after a Brucella outbreak was associated with their products. Public health officials are investigating Brucella illnesses in seven states in connection with this issue. Last month, officials warned anyone who consumed raw milk or raw milk products between June 1 and August 14, 2017 contact their doctors and get antibiotic treatments after Brucella bacteria was found in K-Bar Dairy's raw milk. This rare strain of Brucella causes serious illness, and can cause chronic conditions such as heart problems, enlargement of the liver or spleen, nervous system conditions, and arthritis. Testing conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Lab found that two cows in the herd were shedding … [Read more...]
Why Doesn’t Everyone Who Drinks Raw Milk Get Sick?
Over the years, Food Poisoning Bulletin has received many, many messages from people defending raw milk consumption. Every one of these messages has used the claim, "I have drunk raw milk for years and I have never gotten sick." There are several problems with that statement: one is the logical fallacy of a small sample size. But first, some history. There is a Salmonella outbreak that was just discovered in Washington state. Raw milk from Pride & Joy Dairy has teated positive for a rare strain of Salmonella Dublin that sickened and hospitalized two people in that state in January 2017. The dairy's license to sell raw milk was pulled by the Washington State Department of Health. Raw milk has been consumed by people for many years. And many people have been sickened and … [Read more...]
Pride and Joy Dairy License Suspended After Salmonella illnesses Confirmed
Two people sickened with Salmonella Dublin and hospitalized in January 2017 have been linked to raw milk samples produced by Pride and Joy Dairy in Toppenish, Washington. The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) suspended that dairy's milk processing plant license due to "ongoing concerns about pathogens in their retail milk product," according to the news release. In September, WSDA told consumers not to drink any Pride and Joy retail milk products because Salmonella bacteria had been found in the beverage. Pride and Joy at first refused to issue a recall, then did so a day later. The sampling was part of routine testing of all licensed raw milk dairy operations. The dairy can still ship milk to other processing plants for pasteurization, but cannot legally bottle … [Read more...]
Pride & Joy Creamery Withdraws Raw Milk After Salmonella Found
Pride and Joy Creamery posted a notice on their Facebook page that they are pulling milk dated October 4th from all stores that sell it. Last week the Washington State Department of Agriculture issued a warning about that dairy's products after Salmonella bacteria was found in a sample. The owners would not issue a recall after learning about the Salmonella contamination, according to the Washington State Department of Health. The Facebook post, posted one day after public health officials revealed the contamination, reads, "Out of an abundance of caution we have talked to all of our stores and asked them to pull any milk dated October 4th for a full credit. We will be continuing to investigate the situation. We stand behind our products and will offer a full refund to anyone who … [Read more...]
Brucella Outbreak From K-Bar Dairy Raw Milk Prompts CDC Warning in Seven States
A health warning for Brucella in Texas' K-Bar Dairy raw milk has been issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Texas Department of State Health. Public health officials are investigating brucellosis illnesses in as many as seven states. It is illegal to sell unpasteurized, or raw, milk, across state lines. The milk in question came from K-Bar dairy in Paradise, Texas. Weeks ago, Food Poisoning Bulletin told you about a Brucella outbreak in that state linked to raw milk that hospitalized one woman. Isolates from that patient match antibiotic-resistant Brucella bacteria in samples taken from the dairy's raw milk. The bacteria is called Brucella RB51, which is rare but causes serious illness. Officials are warning that anyone who consumed raw milk or … [Read more...]
Raw Milk Recalled From Spanish Sonrise Dairy in Yacolt, WA For Possible E. coli
Whole raw milk is being recalled for possible E. coli contamination from Spanish Sonrise Dairy in Yacolt, Washington. A notice has been posted on the Washington Department of Agriculture web site. Routine sampling by that agency revealed the presence of toxin-producing E. coli in raw cream that was processed from raw milk. There are no known illnesses associated with the recalled product at this time. The Spanish Sonrise Dairy raw milk, with a best by date of August 23, 2017 has been recalled. The product is bottled in half gallon glass containers and was sold directly to private customers and at one retail store in the state. If you purchased this product do not drink it. Throw it out or take it back to the place of purchase for a refund. The recall statement reads, "Retail … [Read more...]
Brucella Outbreak in Texas From Raw Milk
A Texas resident has been diagnosed with brucellosis and has been hospitalized after consuming raw milk from K-Bar Dairy in Paradise, Texas in Wise County. An investigation by Texas Department of State Health Services has determined that milk from that facility is "the most probable source of the infection." K-Bar Dairy is a licensed raw milk dairy. Officials are investigating additional illnesses that may be connected to this product. That milk and other dairy products sold by that facility are being recalled. Anyone who has consumed milk or other products from that dairy since June 1 is at high risk of a Brucella infection. The press release states that, "People who consumed milk from this dairy but have no symptoms should discuss the issue with their provider and monitor … [Read more...]
E. coli-HUS Outbreak in Virginia in March 2016 Associated with Raw Milk
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...]
