More than 165 people, mostly children, have been sickened so far by raw milk products from Raw Farm LLC.
In reports obtained by Food Safety News from the California Division of Communicable Disease Control and the California Department of Health, the Salmonella outbreak has sickened 165 people across four states. Previously the department of health was reporting a dozen sick. The most recent of the reports is from February this year. The most recent illness was recorded this past month.
“Over the last 30 plus years of practice I have been a vocal advocate for robust public health involvement in disease – especially foodborne illness prevention. It is beyond me to comprehend why public health would remain mute in the face of at least 165 sick, 20 hospitalized and 40 percent of the ill five years or younger – especially raw milk – a risky elixir, The more I think about this the harder it is to figure out why public health would sit on the scientific fact that a food producer of a known high-risk food is sickening hundreds. This includes overwhelming epidemiological evidence of the same WGS pattern in both humans and in milk. Setting aside the “food freedom” argument for a moment that people should be able to eat or drink what they want and feed their kids the same; what about simply informing the public of the facts and letting the public decide for themselves?” said Bill Marler, a Seattle food safety attorney and publisher of Food Safety News.
The number of patients in the outbreak is likely much higher than the numbers reported by the Division of Communicable Disease Control because of underreporting. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that for every confirmed patient in a Salmonella outbreak, there are 29 unreported patients.
Raw Farm LLC, formerly doing business as Organic Pastures, is implicated in the outbreak.
Portions of two reports obtained by Food Safety News were redacted. The outbreak covered in the reports began in the fall of 2023. The median age of patients in the outbreak that sickened 165 people was seven.
“Organic Pastures, aka Raw Farm, a brand of raw milk and other brands of raw milk have been linked to multiple previous outbreaks (of) STEC O157, STEC O103, Campylobacter,” according to the report from the Division of Communicable Disease Control.
The agency reported that the Salmonella outbreak, which affected 165 patients, is the largest in the past decade associated with raw milk. Tests of raw milk from the Raw Farm dairy and raw milk in patient homes matched the outbreak strain of Salmonella.
Fourteen percent of patients with known information required have hospitalization.
Raw Farm ceased production and issued a recall on Oct. 24, 2023, but resumed sales on Oct. 31. Of the patients with information available, 93 percent reported consuming Raw Farm LLC raw milk.
According to the California Division of Communicable Disease Control, raw milk, or unpasteurized milk, is not grass-fed of organic labels. It is about pasteurization. Milk that has not been pasteurized has been shown in numerous recalls and outbreaks to be contaminated with one or more pathogens, including E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter, and Brucella.
From 2009 through 2021, unpasteurized raw milk was associated with 143 outbreaks.
“Pasteurization is considered one of public health’s most effective food safety interventions,” according to the California Division of Communicable Disease.
“Before its use, millions became sick and died from tuberculosis, scarlet fever, typhoid fever, and other diseases.”
Pasteurization was initially developed for wine in the 1850s and adopted for milk about 20 years later. In the 1920s and 1930s, pasteurization of milk became the norm. Now, the sale of raw milk across state lines is prohibited by federal law.
Pasteurization has repeatedly been shown to not decrease milk’s beneficial properties.
Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.
If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.
“A complete and compelling account of the hidden and not-so-hidden ways the food we give our beloved pets can be contaminated.” – JoNel Aleccia, Health Reporter, Food & Nutrition, The Associated Press.
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Available from all major on-line retailers, including:
Food Safety Alert: New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets warns consumers about possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination in unpasteurized raw milk from Garrie A. Smith dba Big Brook Farm, after a sample of the milk collected by an inspector was found to contain L. monocytogenes. The producer is now prohibited from selling raw milk until subsequent sampling indicates that the product is free of harmful bacteria.
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Canada
OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE: The Public Health Agency of Canada reports 70 cases of Salmonella illnesses linked to snakes and feeder rodents in an outbreak involving eight provinces: British Columbia (3), Alberta (10), Saskatchewan (7), Manitoba (3), Ontario (32), Quebec (11), New Brunswick (1) and Newfoundland and Labrador (3). The outbreak began in February 2022, and the most recent case was reported in February 2024. Ten people have been hospitalized, and one person has died.
Allergy Alert: Bombay Wholesale & Trading Ltd. recalls Indian Heritage brand of Soya Chaap Masala (850g; Batch SDMIR3; Best before APRIL 2026; UPC 0 898487 154961) due to undeclared soy and gluten.
Food Safety Recall: William J. Walter Candiac (Candiac, QC) recalls three varieties of terrines due to lack of mandatory storage temperature labeling. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of recalled products.
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Europe
Allergy Alert (Finland): Lidl recalls Kartanon Kanakorma, Täysjyväriisiä ja broilerin rintafileetä kanelilla ja currylla maustetussa kastikkeessa / whole grain rice and chicken breast fillet in a sauce spiced with cinnamon and curry (350g; Expiry date 2.4.2024) due to undeclared milk and beans.
Allergy Alert (Finland): SOK recalls Herkku Katkarapusalaatti / Shrimp salad (180g; Best before 27.4.2024) due to undeclared fish.
Allergy Alert (UK): Origin Kitchen recalls all Spread & Stir and Bessert products due to undeclared peanuts. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of recalled products.
Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Jean Gotta groupe recalls Jean GOTTAbrandChipolata au romarin/ Chipolata sausages with rosemary (Lot 8441140; Use by 21/03/2024) due to possible Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): FRANCE SELECT recalls several varieties of PAUPIETTE DE POULET / Chicken paupiette (Lot EL230324; Use by 23/03/2024) due to Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): COUSIN ALAIN recalls Moules de pêches / Peach mussels (15 kg bag; Lot 026.45.11.03; Use by 06/03/2024) due to E. coli contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): KREEK’S-FRANCE ARACHIDES recalls various flavours of KREEK’S brand POP-CORN (Multiple pack sizes, lot codes, and Best before dates) due to aflatoxin (mycotoxin) contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of recalled products.
Food Safety Recall (France): SA LANGUEDOC LOZERE VIANDE LLV recalls Languedoc Lozère Viande brand Merguez Portion (Multiple pack sizes; Lot 0153292301; Use by 21/03/2024, 23/03/2024, and 24/03/2024) due to possible Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): SCHMIDHAUSER recalls SCHMIDHAUSERFromage Le Cousin / Raw milk cheese (Lot 60202623482; Use by dates between 18/03/2024 and 20/04/2024) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): ETABLISSEMENTS JEAN CHAPIN recalls Saucisse pur porc sans c aux oignons / Pure pork sausages with onions (10-pack; Lot 970/240710076; Use by 01/04/2024) due to Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): MOULIN MECKERT-DIEMER recalls MOULIN DES MOINES brand SON AVOINE / Oat bran (20 kg bag; Lot 04724; Best before 16/02/2025) due to foreign matter contamination (metal).
Food Safety Recall (France): EARL DE LA GRAND’LANDE recalls Le Gargilesse brand Coeur de l’Indre Qéops goat cheese (Lots 58, 59, 60; Best by 07/04/2024, 08/04/2024 & 09/04/2024, respectively) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): SCHMIDHAUSER recalls SCHMIDHAUSER brand Fromage à racler de chèvre / Goat cheese (Lot 11237223511; Use by dates between 02/04/2024 & 17/04/2024) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): COOPERATIVE LAITIERE DE LA SEVRE recalls SEVRE ET BELLE brand LE CHEVROT LAIT CRU / Raw goat’s milk cheese (200g; Lot 240441402; Best before 26/04/2024) due to possible E. coli O103:H2 contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Auchan recalls Fromage de chèvre à racler/ Goat cheese (Lot 11237223511; Use by dates 02/04/24 and 14/04/24) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Australia and New Zealand
Allergy Alert (Australia): CJ Nutracon PTY LTD T/A CJ Foods Australia recalls Bibigo Mini Mandu Prawn Dumplings (270g; Best before 04/04/2024, 05/04/2024, 22/04/2024, 24/04/2024, 09/05/2024, 10/05/2024, 08/08/2024, 19/08/2024, 21/08/2024, and 21/09/2024) due to undeclared egg.
“Reads like a true crime novel” – Food Safety News
Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations?
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Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.
If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.
“A complete and compelling account of the hidden and not-so-hidden ways the food we give our beloved pets can be contaminated.” – JoNel Aleccia, Health Reporter, Food & Nutrition, The Associated Press.
“An invaluable resource for busy pet owners” – Food Safety News
Available from all major on-line retailers, including:
OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: CDC, FDA and state and local partners are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Sundsvall illnesses linked to recently recalled Malichita brand cantaloupes imported from Mexico. Forty-three individuals in 15 states are known to have been infected so far. Seventeen outbreak victims were hospitalized.
OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE: FDA, CDC and state and local partners are continuing to investigate reports of elevated blood lead levels in individuals with reported exposure to Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree pouches manufactured in Ecuador and sold under WanaBana, Weis, and Schnucks brands. As of November 16, 2023, there have been 34 reports of illness potentially linked to recalled product submitted to FDA. The FDA suspects cinnamon to be the source of the extremely high lead levels in the fruit puree, but has not yet been able to collect and test samples of the cinnamon used in the recalled products.
Allergy Alert: Raw SeaFoods, Inc. recalls Farm Raised Lightly Seasoned Atlantic Salmon Burger (PLU code 56228; Sell by 9/11/23-11/19/23) due to undeclared sesame and milk.
Allergy Alert: FSIS issues public health alert for five meat and poultry jerky products due to undeclared soy. Please refer to the FSIS notice for a complete list of affected products.
Food Safety Recall Update: SOFIA PRODUCE, LLC (dba Trufresh) expands an earlier recall to include all sizes of fresh cantaloupes packaged in cardboard containers labeled with the “Malichita” brand name (distributed between October 16, 2023 and October 23, 2023; Sales order numbers 128663, 128712, 128713, 128662, 128680, 225252, 225231, 419719, 419721, 419828, 419803, 612235, 612273) due to possible Salmonella contamination.
Allergy Alert: Loblaw Companies Limited recalls PC brand Milk Chocolate Covered Raisins (908g; Best before 2024 JL 08; UPC 0 60383 98203 4) due to undeclared almonds.
Allergy Alert: Adonis (Montréal, QC) recalls several meat-based products due to undeclared allergens. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
Food Safety Recall: Pattison Food Group recalls multiple Urban Fare brand and Save on Foods brand cantaloupe products due to Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
Food Safety Recall: Hector Larivee Inc. recalls Groupe Tomapure and Fruit Pure brand Cantaloupe products due to Salmonella contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
Food Safety Recall: Épicerie cachère Lipa (Montréal, QC) recalls LOX SPREAD (All units sold up to 16 November 2023) because the item was produced/packed under conditions that might render it unsafe to consume.
Food Safety Recall: Sami Fruits (Montréal, QC) recalls CANTALOUP COUPÉ / Cut cantaloupe (1 L; Sold up to 15 November 2023) and PLATEAU DE FRUIT AVEC CANTALOUP COUPÉ / Fruit platter with cut cantaloupe (Sold up to 15 November 2023) due to possible Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall: Magasin Général Ste-Élizabeth (Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick, QC) recalls COQ AU VIN (500 ml; Sold up to 14 November 2023) and SOUPE PARMENTIER (1 L; Sold up to 14 November 2023) due to food safety risk resulting from possible temperature abuse.
Food Safety Recall: L’Andouille (Montréal, QC) recalls Rillettes de canard / Duck rillettes (All lots lacking storage temperature labeling) due to possible temperature abuse.
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Europe
Allergy Alert (Belgium): La Brasserie d’Achouffe recalls Chouffe brand Crackers (35g & 75g; All lot numbers and date codes; Manufactured by Linatelle SRL) due to undeclared gluten (barley).
Allergy Alert (Denmark): Slagter Norlyk recalls Færdigstegte Schnitzler / Ready made schnitzels (4 pieces; Use by 16.10.2023 to 23.11.2023) due to undeclared gluten.
Allergy Alert (France): KERMENE E.Leclerc recalls FERIAL brand STEAK HACHE SURGELE / Frozen ground beef patties, 15% fat (10 x 100g; Lot 36102078; Best before 17/11/2024) due to undeclared soy and gluten.
Allergy Alert (Italy): LAMB WESTON B.V. recalls Patate preferite spicchi / Favorite potato wedges (2.5 kg; Lot L 3280; Best before 28-03-2025) due to undeclared gluten.
Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Jumbo Supermarkten recalls Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Lactose Magere Yoghurt / Lactose-free, low-fat yoghurt (1 L; Best before 13-11-2023, 27-11-2023 & 04-12-2023) due to undeclared lactose.
Allergy Alert (Netherlands): Jumbo recalls Jumbo Broodgeluk Tarwe Maïsbollen / Wheat and corn dumplings (4 pieces; Sold November 17, 2023) due to undeclared barley, oats and nuts.
Allergy Alert (UK): Morrisons recalls Morrisons Free From Gluten Choco Crackles (300g; Best before 18 September 2024) due to undeclared milk, hazelnuts and gluten-free oats.
Food Safety Recall (Austria): Bon Gelati Übach-Palenberg GmbH & Co. KG recalls Bon Gelati Fürst Pückler Art (Vanille, Erdbeere, Schoko) / Three-flavour ice cream (Vanilla, Strawberry, Chocolate) (2.5 L; Batch codes L3 279 A01 & L3 280 A01; Best before 25.09.2025 & 26.09.2025) due to foreign matter contamination (metal and plastic).
Food Safety Recall (France): LES SALAISONS DIJON.A.SABATIER recalls Le Charcutier – Auchan brand Véritable jambon persillé de Bourgogne / Real parsley ham (Lot 313022; Use by 13/12/2023) due to possible Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): LES SALOIRS D’ESPELETTE recalls Kukulu, Ezpela, Tomme d’Espelette, Kalaka, Saloirs d’Espelette, Antonin brands of Fromage brebis poivron piment / Pepper-pimento sheep’s milk cheese (600g, 1 kg, 4 kg; Lot BP51023; Multiple Best before dates) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): CHOUCROUTERIE MEYER WAGNER recalls Saveurs d’Alsace brand La Choucroute cuisinée / Cooked sauerkraut (600g; Lot WA18 0809; Use by 02/12/2023) due to foreign matter contamination (soft blue plastic).
Food Safety Recall (France): SOCIETE NOUVELLE METZGER MULLER recalls Metzger-Muller brand Knack d’Alsace Cocktail / Cocktail weiners (Bulk; Lots 13314005, 13312153, 13313186; Multiple Use by dates) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France):SAR’OCEAN SAS recalls SAR’OCEAN brand ACRAS DE MORUE / Cod (1 kg; Lot C310; Use by 27/11/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): MOCRIXA INTERMARCHE recalls LE TORCHONAY JAMBON CUIT / Cooked ham (Lot 9932980347; Use by 11/12/2023) due to possible Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): TIPIAK EPICERIE recalls several TIPIAK brand Couscous products due to foreign matter contamination (blue plastic threads). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
Food Safety Recall (France): SOUFFERANT VIANDES recalls Soufferant viandes brandAndouillettes/ Sausages (5-pack and 2-pack; Lot FA2023101604567; Use by 18/11/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): LES SALAISONS DIJON.A.SABATIER recalls Pays Gourmand brand Véritable Jambon persillé de Bourgogne / Real parsley ham (200g; Lot 311015; Use by 11/12/2023) due to possible Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): PAULHANI INTERMARCHE SAINT PAUL SUR SAVE recalls JAMBON BLANC CUIT AVEC COUENNE SANS NITRITE / Nitrite-free cooked white ham, with rind (Sold by the slice from 06/11/2023 to 08/11/2023) due to Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): BCT 500 recalls Chorizo, sliced (80g; Lot 323289; Best before 18/02/2024) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Germany): Fleischerei & Direktvermarktung Schicketanz GbR recalls five meat products due to foreign matter contamination (glass splinters). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
Food Safety Recall (Italy): Helio recalls Helio brand Semi di sesamo sgusciati / Shelled sesame seeds (200g; Lot 23003716; Best before 01/2025; Product of Poland) due to Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Lidl recalls Roomijs Tricolore van Bon Gelati / Three-flavour ice cream (Lots L3 279 A01 & L3 280 A01; Best before 25-09-2025 & 26-09-2025, respectively) due to foreign matter contamination (metal or plastic particles).
Food Safety Recall (Spain): Manufacturer recalls Bon Gelati brand Bourbon Vanilla Flavor Ice Cream (2.5 L; Lots L3 275 A01 & L3 276 A01; Best before 09/21/2025 & 09/22/2025, respectively) due to foreign matter contamination (metal fragments).
Australia and New Zealand
Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): Lindsay Farm HB Ltd recalls Lindsay Farm brand Organic Raw Milk (unpasteurised) (2 L; Lots 2310, 2410, 2510, 2610, 2710, 2810, 2910, 3010, 3110, 0111, 0211; Use by 27.10.23, 28.10.23, 29.10.23, 30.10.23, 31.10.23, 01.11.23, 02.11.23, 03.11.23, 04.11.23, 05.11.23) due to possible Campylobacter contamination.
“Reads like a true crime novel” – Food Safety News
Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations?
Click on the link to listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.
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