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Washington Raw Milk Associated With Dungeness Valley Creamery E coli Outbreak

An outbreak of  E. coli O157:H7 in Washington state has been associated with raw milk produced by Dungeness Valley Creamery in Sequim, Washington.

The state’s departments of health and agriculture on Tuesday reminded consumers in a press release of the potential health hazards of drinking unpasteurized milk. Contrary to some who believe it is more nutritional, raw milk carries the threat of pathogenic bacteria that can seriously injure and potentially kill those who become infected. Besides E. coli, raw milk can be contaminated with Salmonella, Listeria and Campylobacter.bottle-of-milk

The release says three people were recently sickened with  E. coli O157:H7  and all three individuals reported  drinking raw milk produced by the Dungeness Valley Creamery, according to the release.

“No E. coli has been found in samples from the dairy’s current batch of milk, but during an investigation at the dairy, the Washington State Department of Agriculture found the same bacteria that caused one of the illnesses,” the state news release said.

Many states ban raw milk sales, but not Washington. If you are properly licensed producer or processor with the state agriculture department, you can sell unpasteurized product but only if it carries a consumer warning label that reads like this:

“WARNING: This product has not been pasteurized and may contain harmful bacteria. Pregnant women, children, the elderly and persons with lowered resistance to disease have the highest risk of harm from use of this product.”

Cow-share programs are legal in Washington, but only if the farm is properly licensed.

If you or someone you love has been sickened by drinking raw milk, see a physician immediately. For answers to legal questions, contact national food safety lawyers at Pritzker Olsen Attorneys. We have represented victims of food poisoning in raw milk cases and we have the experience and resources to fight for fair recoveries that recognize not just the short-term health threats caused by E. coli, but the life-long effects that linger in many cases, especially if victims develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Contact us at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free), or complete our online contact and information form.

Here are facts from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that set the record straight on the raw milk debate:

  • Raw milk DOES NOT kill dangerous pathogens by itself.
  • Pasteurizing milk DOES NOT cause lactose intolerance and allergic reactions.
  • Both raw milk and pasteurized milk can cause reactions in people sensitive to milk proteins.
  • Pasteurization DOES NOT reduce milk’s nutritional value.
  • Pasteurization DOES NOT mean that it is safe to leave milk out of the refrigerator for extended time.
  • Pasteurization KILLS harmful bacteria and SAVES lives.
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This post was written by E. coli Lawyer

This post is tagged: ,

3, December 2009

 

5 Comments

  1. saw this coming wrote:

    been to this farm and have seen milk hose, nozzle for filling bottles attached to tank full of milk, tank valve open. The milk in filler is outside tank, lacking temperature regulation, yet tank is temperature regulated. With an open valve, the milk in hose can contaminate whole tank of milk. Gross, unsanitary. They created their own problems by not following simple sanitizing procedures as required by law. Disgusted

  2. Jase wrote:

    You’re profiting off of fear as the FDA does. FDA’s so called facts are based on profits of mass production and not what is truly best for the consumer. Commercial made milk is a poor product and many today say they don’t drink milk because they know it is hurting people. Real milk “raw” is very good for people. The truth is getting out so you might want to consider changing sides but then again the profits might not be there yet.

  3. Biff wrote:

    We first went to this dairy farm in 2007 and bought a couple of gallons of raw milk to try. Now, it’s 2010 and our whole family has been drinking the raw milk for 3 years without a single incident or problem.

    Can’t stand pasteurized, homogenized “cooked” milk now that we have had the real thing! After first trying this milk, I researched both raw and commercial milk production, and was horrified at what I found in the commercially produced “cooked” milk. Now I see that pasteurized, homogenized “cooked” milk is like a hot dog-mystery meat situation: You don’t know what all is in it or where it came from, and you don’t want to know, either, or you would not drink it.

    On the other hand, on this small family farm, I can watch MY FAMILY’S MILK walk in from the pasture, get milked in the barn and the milk gets bottled, all right there. No hormones, chemicals, antibiotics, or caustic commercial cleaning poisons.

    None of my family, friends, neighbors who drink this farm’s raw milk every day have EVER gotten sick from this milk. We would know since we see and talk to each other daily.

    Instead of a profiteering giant corporation using unclean, unhappy, could-not-care-less minimum wage workers producing MY milk, I choose a 3rd generation farm family whose entire life is their farm, their cows and their milk.

    I guess that is something that a blood-sucking lawyer looking for his next host victim just can’t understand. So lawyers, go enjoy a glass of your mystery milk, and just hope that none of those hundreds of underpaid, disgruntled workers pissed in it when he didn’t get the raise he asked for!

  4. Matt | o2h2d2 wrote:

    Truth is Counsel E. Coli, depending on the person, E. Coli may or may not affect a person’s body. Many people pass it through there system with very few symptoms. Unfortunately, many who go to the hospital for treatment, can be severely traumatized by the antibiotics. And this Renal failure bit, has plainly been linked to excessive levels in antibiotic treatment. But either way you can still get a suit. lol I don’t think the FDA will be changing its mind anytime soon. Its a great gig, and kudos to you. Maybe we can play a round of golf sometime. lol

  5. E. coli Lawyer wrote:

    Actually, “this Renal failure bit” can happen without antibiotics. In some cases, the patient develops HUS renal failure before being seen by a doctor. What is impossible to communicate adequately in a blog post is just how horrible HUS is. In addition to renal failure, HUS can cause central nervous system injury, heart problems, blindness, diabetes, and other serious health problems. People who contract HUS, usually children, are in the hospital for weeks or months and face an uncertain future.

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