WI: Tainted raw milk brings bad luck to high school pre-football game potluck

[Emily]

http://www.jsonline.com/business/raw...282848161.html

By Rick Barrett of the Journal Sentinel
...

Chocolate syrup was added to the milk. The rest of the menu included chicken Alfredo, desserts, Kool-Aid and water. Served by some parents of the players, the dinner lasted for about an hour at a church near the school.

With the exception of limited, incidental sales, state law prohibits the sale of unpasteurized milk to the public because it may carry bacteria that cause food-borne illnesses.

Wisconsin has been at the center of a national debate over raw milk...

Too bad someone was so unwise as to bring raw milk to an event like this, however the milk got contaminated.

[BestlaStormcrow]

Re: WI: Tainted raw milk brings bad luck to high school pre-football game potluck

My state allows raw milk sales, and has some fairly big hurdles for the dairies involved. Just anecdotally, I have been told by one dairy owner who chose to suspend his raw milk production after a contaminated milk claim, that if the investigating agencies discover any raw milk products in a household, the investigation stops there and blame is placed on the milk, even if other foods in the house have pathogens or contaminants.

That being said, having owned my own milk cow, I wouldn't buy raw milk from just anyone. There are a lot of ways for milk to be contaminated by a careless milker, so having a state mandated testing system makes a difference.

[Lizw]

Re: WI: Tainted raw milk brings bad luck to high school pre-football game potluck

My state allows raw milk sales, and has some fairly big hurdles for the dairies involved. Just anecdotally, I have been told by one dairy owner who spend his raw milk production after a contaminated milk claim, that if the investigating agencies discover any raw milk products in a household, the investigation stops there and blame is placed on the milk, even if other foods in the house have pathogens or contaminants.

I've been told this as well in Virginia (which does not allow raw milk sales). There's no question that organisms can grow in raw milk (and raw meat and raw produce, etc., etc.). But also, I had a raw milk herd share for years, and the herd owner told me some hair-raising things about some of the shareholders. They would bring jars back with moldy milk growing in them and insist that it was his job to wash them, or say openly that they weren't going to keep their fridges as cold as recommended because "if the milk is any good to begin with, it shouldn't spoil," and other totally outrageous behavior.

Now I have dairy goats, thank God. I can't imagine having to consume the garbage you get from the grocery store.

[Amish Country]

Re: WI: Tainted raw milk brings bad luck to high school pre-football game potluck

Laws governing the sale of raw milk and raw milk products vary from state to state. It is important to know whats in the state law and guidelines. Here is PA it was and may still be legal to sell raw milk from CAE (Caprine Arthritis and Encephalitis)* infected goats. According to the USDA CAE does not affect humans. I would not want to take that chance. Unfortunately I and my family have already, unknowingly, had milk from CEA infected goats. I assumed that since the milk was from a PA licensed and inspected raw milk dary the herd would be disease free.

It is important to ask questions and know the law.

*Link to info on CAE:

http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/generalized_conditions/caprine_arthritis_and_encephalitis/overview_of_caprine_arthritis_and_encephalitis.html