Organic Pastures Raw Milk Blamed For E.Coli Infections In California

[Gert van der Hoek]

Organic Pastures Raw Milk Blamed For E.Coli Infections In California

11/16/2011

(RTTNews) - Raw milk products produced by Organic Pastures Dairy Co. have been blamed for the E. coli infection that sickened five children across four California counties, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

The five children who are residents of Contra Costa, Kings, Sacramento, and San Diego counties of California were infected with the same strain of E. coli O157:H7 between August and October. Three of the five children were hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that may lead to kidney failure. There have been no deaths.

Meanwhile, the Fresno, California-based Organic Pastures has been ordered to immediately recall its raw dairy products including, raw butter, raw cream, raw colostrum, and a raw product labeled "Qephor" , from retail shelves, with the only exception being cheese aged a minimum of 60 days. Until further notice, Organic Pastures may not produce raw milk products for the retail market.

RTTnews

Thanks to YK

[Pathfinder]

Re: Organic Pastures Raw Milk Blamed For E.Coli Infections In California

Calif. dairy halts raw milk production after kids sickened

By Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY

Updated<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>document.write(niceDate("11/20/2011 5:49 PM"));</SCRIPT> 2h 48m ago

An outbreak of E. coli linked to unpasteurized milk that has curtailed operations at the nation's largest raw milk dairy could keep the dairy's production constrained until Dec. 1.

The dairy is owned by one of the major proponents of the healthfulness of milk in its raw state.

Last week the California Department of Food and Agriculture ordered the recall and quarantine of all unpasteurized milk products from Organic Pastures of Fresno. The dairy sells raw milk, butter, cream and colostrum (the pre-milk produced by cows for newborn calves).

The state ordered the recall after its Department of Public Health identified five children in four counties who were all infected with the same strain of E. coli O157:H7. Three of the children were hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure. The only connection found among the children was that each family purchased raw milk products from Organic Pastures.

The dairy appealed the recall, saying none of its milk had tested positive for E. coli, including milk from the children's homes. But state officials upheld the recall.

Unpasteurized milk is a flash point in health circles. It is illegal in 20 states; legal in some form in the rest.

More...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-11-21/raw-milk-recall/51322292/1