This just in, courtesy of Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services.
“Bacteria That Caused Illnesses Among School Event Attendees Matches Strain Found In Unpasteurized Milk From Local Farm”
“MADISON – Laboratory test results show that the Campylobactor jejuni bacteria that caused diarrheal illness among 16 individuals who drank unpasteurized (raw) milk at a school event early this month in Raymond was the same bacteria strain found in unpasteurized milk produced at a local farm, according to officials from the Department of Health Services (DHS) and Western Racine County Health Department (WRCHD). A parent had supplied unpasteurized milk from the farm for the school event.
Stool samples submitted to the WRCHD by ill students and adults were sent to the State Laboratory of Hygiene where they tested positive for the bacteria. Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) food inspectors collected milk samples from the bulk tank at the farm, which tested positive for Campylobacter jejuni. Further testing by the State Hygiene lab showed the bacteria strain from the stool samples and the milk samples matched. Additionally, interviews with event attendees revealed that consuming the unpasteurized milk was statistically associated with illness. Health officials said that this combination of laboratory and epidemiologic evidence indicates that the illnesses were caused by the unpasteurized milk consumed at the school event.
Campylobacter jejuni bacteria can cause diarrhea, which can be bloody, abdominal cramping, fever, nausea and vomiting. Rarely, an infection may lead to paralysis after initial symptoms have disappeared. Campylobacter can be transmitted by consuming food contaminated directly or indirectly by animal feces or handled by someone with the infection who has not adequately washed hands after using the bathroom.
The farm did not sell the unpasteurized milk and there was no legal violation associated with the milk being brought to the school event. The farm is licensed and in good standing with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.”
Note the last paragraph. Since the farm did not SELL the unpasteurized milk, there was no legal violation. But that doesn’t make the farm’s actions either sensible or safe – as 16 people have just learned the hard way.
Also, raw milk advocates who deny that unpasteurized milk can be the source of food-borne disease, please note. The identical strain – the outbreak strain – of Campylobacter jejuni was recovered from stool samples of the outbreak victims AND was found in milk samples taken from the bulk milk tank at the farm. This is not “just” epidemiological evidence. The trigger was pulled and the gun was still smoking.
Raw milk is a high risk food and should never be offered – not even for free – to a susceptible population. That includes school children.
eFoodAlert 
I do not drink milk at all and do not feel that it is a valuable source of nutrition. However, I do note that there are dangers with the food industry and it is impossible to remove all those dangers. Even the best of farms with the best of precautions can produce an inferior product at one point or another. It is always problematic when an industry cuts corners to make a buck and it is unfortunate that many farms are doing this — but it is due to necessity. If we actually paid the good farmers what they are worth, we would not have as many of these problems. And if Big Agriculture and Big Food Companies would stop underselling the small farmers, we would have better foods. I will pay top dollar for nutritious foods for my family from the local farms over and above purchasing the latest gadget because it is the most important thing that I can do for my families’ health and the health of our local agriculture…
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Absolutely!
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Raw milk is a very valuable source of milk for those who can’t drink pasteurized milk, but like any food product it must be handled safely and properly. Same with raw meat, but we don’t ban it from being sold, we educate people for proper handling of raw meat.
So don’t blame the milk. It was the way it was produced. Farms that are legally allowed to sell raw milk RARELY if ever have a recall or make people sick because they handle it properly. Don’t be such chicken little the sky is falling over ONE recent incident by someone not licensed or properly trained in handling it. Raw chicken sickens far more every day, but do we freak out and make it illegal to sell it? No!
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If by ‘the way it was produced” you mean they did not pasteurize it. then yes, blame the raw milk. Recalls and illnesses caused by milk are 100% avoidable with pasteurization.
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I’m not so sure about your statement that the use of pasteurization makes recalls and illnesses 100% avoidable. Nothing is 100% avoidable.
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