I know many of you purchase raw {unpasteurized} milk produced by Organic Pastures, here in California and wanted to help spread the word that there has been a recall on it after five California children became sick with E. coli.
Three of the five children were hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure. State officials could not say, however, what the children's current condition is.
State health investigators found that the children, who live in Kings, Contra Costa, Sacramento and San Diego counties, had consumed one common food: raw milk from Organic Pastures Dairy.
Although laboratory samples of Organic Pastures milk have not detected E. coli contamination, the state will not allow the dairy to resume production until it meets all sanitation requirements. State investigators and food-safety experts have begun a complete inspection of the dairy.
Persons at highest risk of disease from these organisms include newborns and infants; the elderly; pregnant women; those taking corticosteroids, antibiotics or antacids; and those having chronic illnesses or other conditions that weaken their immunity.
To read the article in its entirety, go to the Fresno Bee.
Three of the five children were hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure. State officials could not say, however, what the children's current condition is.
State health investigators found that the children, who live in Kings, Contra Costa, Sacramento and San Diego counties, had consumed one common food: raw milk from Organic Pastures Dairy.
Although laboratory samples of Organic Pastures milk have not detected E. coli contamination, the state will not allow the dairy to resume production until it meets all sanitation requirements. State investigators and food-safety experts have begun a complete inspection of the dairy.
Persons at highest risk of disease from these organisms include newborns and infants; the elderly; pregnant women; those taking corticosteroids, antibiotics or antacids; and those having chronic illnesses or other conditions that weaken their immunity.
Photo courtesy, Fresno Bee
Organic Pastures products are to be pulled from grocery store shelves, and consumers are strongly urged to throw away any products they have at home.To read the article in its entirety, go to the Fresno Bee.
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10 comments:
The farmer always drank unpasteurised, along with the rest of his family, when we were a dairy farm. When I came into the farm, I drank it for the first six years with no ill effect and then we had foot and mouth and our dairy herd went. Now we drink pasteurised. Are they absolutely certain it is the milk that has caused this?
Hi Weaver, we also drink the raw milk from our farm going on three years now and it's great. However, I would not feel comfortable feeding raw milk to my family from a farm in which I'm not familiar with the herd management practices....but that's just me. If we ever go out of the dairy business, I'll be buying pasteurized milk.
They are still investigating Organic Pastures and I'll keep you posted when I hear the outcome. Thank you!
All of the milk tested, including the milk that the children actually drank at the time they became ill, tested negative for pathogens, including e coli. From what I have read, the owner of the farm did something to piss off the state just a few days before the recall. After having worked in an industry regulated by the FDA, its totally believable to me that OP is being picked on and even though the cases are linked, they were not the source of infection. I cannot drink pasteurized because I have an allergic reaction to the proteins altered during heating. I hope this is resolved soon because I will be running out of milk soon! And, no, I did not destroy the recalled milk, I don't believe there is any need to.
OP milk was the only common food according to investigators. The milk was tested and negative for ecoli. So they go to the facility and test milk, it also comes up negative. So their solution is to recall all OP milk, and do a full review of facility?! This is either an attack or deliberate smear campaign. Proper investigation would look for other sources when the "common" one came up negative. Or how about checking the hygiene practices of the children in their homes and schools? This appears to be another obvious bureaucratic attempt to sabotage the sale of raw milk and THAT is the real sickening thing!!
My 1 and 3 year old daughters and I just finished drinking the last of our "contaminated" OP milk this weekend in defiance of CA state investigators.
Just stumbled across this blog and I am loving it! I am a Pre-Vet student with a Dairy Management minor and I've been enjoying reading your stories and opinions!
As for the raw milk issue, personally I think raw milk should come with a disclaimer. If you're going to feed raw milk to your children, then I think it's your own fault if your children get sick, not the farmer's. Raw milk is known to cause dozens of diseases (you can find a list on the CDC's website here: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/foodborne_illness_what_consumers_need_to_know/index.asp#3).
For people who have grown up on farms and have been exposed to these pathogens their whole loves, raw milk is not a problem. For these city dwellers who are now switching to raw milk to follow the latest trends, it is a HUGE risk. Is it the farmer's fault if these people get sick? Absolutely not, but it certainly doesn't surprise me that farmer's are getting sued over it. I think there needs to be some kind of liability release - if someone gets sick from raw milk, it's their own fault for drinking it in the first place.
As for me, you couldn't pay me to drink raw milk. I didn't grow up on a farm, and I have no doubt that I would get incredibly sick from drinking it. After having cryptosporidosis shortly after I started working in the dairy industry (that was two weeks of hell, let me tell you!) I have no desire to unnecessarily expose myself to more zoonotic diseases.
I guess what I am trying to say is: I think farmer's should certainly be allowed to sell raw milk if they wish, but I also think if you're crazy enough to drink raw milk without some kind of immunity built up, it's your own fault if you get sick!
My family and I have been drinking raw milk for 7 years now, with no ill effects! We raise our own goats and have goat milk for half of the year, but when my goats are dry we drink OP milk for the other half. OP milk is the target of a smear campaign, and I am horrified our government is spending OUR tax dollars on tormenting small farmers. What about the big dairy industry? Plus, I thought our country was in serious debt?
Would you please update with the finding and current status of OP. There must be some resolution by now. My money says it was a government smear campaign...what did it turn out to be? Was any proof of e. coli ever found?
The credibility of the Centers for Disase Control should be questioned. Who started the organization, who funds them? Ever look into that? Yes, they probably want to drive Organic Pastures out of business, or some large corporation wants to buy them for a cheap price! Good job to all the farmers who keep clean, truly organic pastures and provide the dairy from them.
People are so gullible and willing to accept as truth without questioning when it comes to the FDA, CDFA (California Department of Food and Agriculture) and CDC (Centers for Disease Control). Investigate whether they have ties to the big food corporations.
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