E. coli Lawyer Will Join Harvard University Panel for Lively Debate over The “Insane Risks” of Raw Milk
Raw milk litigation, the raw milk movement and the pure science behind raw milk will make a splash together on February 16 in a national food safety debate hosted by the Harvard Law School Food Law Society on the Harvard campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The participants will feature national E. coli lawyer Fred Pritzer of the PritzkerOlsen Law Firm; Dr. Heidi Kassenborg, director of the Dairy and Food Inspection Division of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture; Sally Fallon Morell, president of Weston A. Price Foundation and David Gumpert, author of The Raw Milk Revolution.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), raw (unpasteurized) milk and raw milk
products like raw milk cheese are to blame for 1,614 illnesses in the U.S. from 1998 to 2008. Two of the
victims died and 187 were hospitalized. Mr. Pritzker has represented victims of raw milk outbreaks, including the family of a Pennsylvania man who was paralyzed from his neck down after drinking raw milk from a local health food store that was unknowingly contaminated with Campylobacter.
The Minneapolis law firm he founded is one of the very few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. PritzkerOlsen has recovered tens of millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning, including raw milk outbreaks.
“It’s insane for states to give farmers the choice of salling raw milk when science has proven that raw milk is no more nutritious than pasteurized milk,” Pritzker has said in previous appearances. “It’s a trap that will continue to inflct an enormous toll on families who will be stricken by illness.”
Pritzker and Kassenborg adhere strongly to the mainstream view that unpasteurized milk is unsafe and especially dangerous for young children, pregnant women, the elderly, infants and people who have weakened immune systems. Besides Campylobacter, raw milk can carry E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, or other potentially lethal pathogens spread by the feces of cows.
Just last year there were at least 10 outbreaks across the country spawned by various pathogens. Four of the outbreaks were caused by toxic E. coli, including three in Washington state alone. Human infections of Shiga toxin-producing types of E. coli lead to a severe complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in 8 to 10 percent of children under age 5 (even previously health children), and HUS is fatal 5 percent of the time. In addition HUS survivors often suffer from lifelong medical issues, including the need for kidney transplants in some.
E. coli Testing Could Expand Soon As Policy Advances
Within three months of the New Year, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is expected to begin testing beef trim for six additional types of shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) bacteria in a breakthrough for food safety.
Since 1994, E. coli O157:H7 has been the only type of the bug declared as an adulterant and therefore subject to testing. It will soon be illegal to sell ground beef and beef intended for grinding if it is contaminated with six other serogroups: O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145.
The pending change could be delayed depending on handling of comments from meat industry interests who are opposed to the expanded testing program. But it has the backing of President Obama’s Food Safety Working Group, which is chaired by the secretaries of agriculture and health and human services. Like other food safety reforms by the President, it is focused on prevention as a principle for building a modern food safety system.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that non-O157 STEC strains are connected with about 110,000 human illnesses annually, and food-borne O157 strains are connected with about 63,000 annually. The STEC strains recently declared as adulterants in ground beef also are found in other food, but they originate in the the guts of cattle and other animals.
Still, one of the most dangerous combination of food poisoning is STECs in undercooked ground beef, causing hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS sufferers lose kidney function and are at risk for stroke, heart attack, central nervous system invasion and severe anemia. Children under 5 years of age are in the age group most susceptible to HUS.
Organic Pastures Raw Milk Linked to E. coli and HUS Outbreak in California
I represent people sickened by raw milk due to contamination with E. coli O157:H7 and other dangerous pathogens. Raw milk can cause kidney failure, brain damage, paralysis and death. I know because I have stood by the bedsides of people who innocently drank raw milk and ended up hooked up to life support fighting for their lives. I have one client who is paralyzed from the neck down after drinking raw milk.
Every outbreak linked to raw milk is a tragedy that could have been prevented. Today, the California Department of Food and Agriculture announced a recall and quarantine of raw milk after an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections was linked by epidemiological evidence to Organic Pastures of Fresno County. Five children were infected with the same strain of E. coli O157:H7 after drinking raw milk produced by Organic Pastures. These children are residents of Contra Costa, Kings, Sacramento, and San Diego counties.
Three of the five children were hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that may lead to kidney failure, stroke, brain damage, pancreatitis, heart failure and a host of other serious medical problems. My experience is that parents who let their children drink raw milk believe raw milk is the healthiest option. The parents are not told that raw milk can contain pathogens so dangerous that their child could be permanently disabled or killed. They are not told that young children are at greater risk of contracting these infections and getting really sick from them.
Below is information about raw milk from the CDC:
Raw milk can carry harmful germs that can make you very sick or kill you. If you’re thinking about drinking raw milk because you believe it has health benefits, consider other options.
Trying to decide about raw milk?
Developing a healthy lifestyle is a process with many decisions and steps. One step you might be thinking about is adding raw milk to your diet. Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized to kill harmful germs. Germs include bacteria, viruses, and parasites. It’s important to understand the risks of drinking raw milk, especially because you may be hearing claims about the supposed “benefits” of raw milk.
Raw milk contains bacteria, and some of them can be harmful. So, if you’re thinking about consuming raw milk because you believe that it is a good source of beneficial bacteria, you need to know that it isn’t and you may instead get sick from the harmful bacteria. If you think that certain types of bacteria may be beneficial to your health, consider getting them from foods that don’t involve such a high risk. For example, so-called probiotic bacteria are sometimes added to pasteurized fermented foods, such as yogurt and kefir.
Milk and products made from milk need minimal processing, called pasteurization, which can be done by heating the milk briefly (for example, heating it to 161°F for about 20 seconds). When milk is pasteurized, some bacteria remain in it, but the disease-causing ones are killed. Harmful germs usually don’t change the look, taste, or smell of milk, so only when milk has been pasteurized can you be confident that these germs are not present. To ensure that milk is safe, processors rapidly cool it after pasteurization, practice sanitary handling, and store milk in clean, closed containers at 45°F or below.
Remember, you can’t look at, smell, or taste a bottle of raw milk and tell if it’s safe to drink. Make the best decision for the health of your family. If you want to keep milk in your family’s diet, protect them by not giving them raw milk. Even healthy adults can get sick from drinking raw milk. If you’re thinking about drinking raw milk because you believe it has health benefits, consider other options.
Who is at greatest risk of getting sick from drinking raw milk?
The risk of getting sick from drinking raw milk is greater for infants and young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as people with cancer, an organ transplant, or HIV/AIDS, than it is for healthy school-aged children and adults. But, it is important to remember that healthy people of any age can get very sick or even die if they drink raw milk contaminated with harmful germs.
What are the risks associated with drinking raw milk?
Raw milk can carry harmful bacteria and other germs that can make you very sick or kill you. While it is possible to get foodborne illnesses from many different foods, raw milk is one of the riskiest of all.
Getting sick from raw milk can mean many days of diarrhea, stomach cramping, and vomiting. Less commonly, it can mean kidney failure, paralysis, chronic disorders, and even death.
Many people who chose raw milk thinking they would improve their health instead found themselves (or their loved ones) sick in a hospital for several weeks fighting for their lives from infections caused by germs in raw milk. For example, a person can develop severe or even life-threatening diseases, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, which can cause paralysis, and hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can result in kidney failure and stroke.
Aren’t raw or natural foods better than processed foods?
Many people believe that foods with no or minimal processing are better for their health. Many people also believe that small, local farms are better sources of healthy food. However, some types of processing are needed to protect health. For example, consumers process raw meat, poultry, and fish for safety by cooking. Similarly, when milk is pasteurized, it is heated just long enough to kill disease-causing germs. Most nutrients remain after milk is pasteurized. There are many local, small farms that offer pasteurized organic milk and cheese products.
I’ve heard that many organic and raw milk producers are creating sanitary and humane conditions for raising animals and producing “safe” raw milk and raw milk products (like cheeses and yogurts). Does this help reduce milk contamination?
Adherence to good hygienic practices during milking can reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of milk contamination. The dairy farm environment is a reservoir for illness-causing germs. No matter what precautions farmers take, and even if their raw milk tests come back negative, they cannot guarantee that their milk, or the products made from their milk, are free of harmful germs.
- Germs such as Escherichia coli O157, Campylobacter, and Salmonella can contaminate milk during the process of milking dairy animals, including cows and goats. Animals that carry these germs are usually healthy.
How does milk get contaminated?
Milk contamination may occur from:
- Cow feces coming into direct contact with the milk
- Infection of the cow’s udder (mastitis)
- Cow diseases (e.g., bovine tuberculosis)
- Bacteria that live on the skin of cows
- Environment (e.g., feces, dirt, processing equipment)
- Insects, rodents, and other animal vectors
- Humans, for example, by cross-contamination from soiled clothing and boots
Pasteurization is the only way to kill many of the bacteria in milk that can make people very sick.
Information about raw milk-related outbreaks
States that allow the legal sale of raw milk for human consumption have more raw milk-related outbreaks of illness than states that do not allow raw milk to be sold legally.
Among dairy product-associated outbreaks reported to CDC between 1973 and 2008 in which the investigators reported whether the product was pasteurized or raw, 82% were due to raw milk or cheese. From 1998 through 2008, 86 outbreaks due to consumption of raw milk or raw milk products were reported to CDC. These resulted in 1,676 illnesses, 191 hospitalizations, and 2 deaths. Most of these illnesses were caused by Escherichia coli O157, Campylobacter, or Salmonella. It is important to note that a substantial proportion of the raw milk-associated disease burden falls on children; among the 86 raw dairy product outbreaks from 1998 to 2008, 79% involved at least one person less than 20 years old.
Reported outbreaks represent the tip of the iceberg. For every outbreak and every illness reported, many others occur, and most illnesses are not part of recognized outbreaks.
North Carolina State Fair E. coli Outbreak Linked to Kelley Building Animal Exhibits
The investigation into the recent E. coli outbreak in North Carolina has determined that the E. coli infections were likely transmitted in the Kelley Building at the North Carolina State Fair. The Kelley Building is one of the permanent structures on the fairgrounds where sheep, goats, and pigs were housed and competed in livestock shows during the fair. State Epidemiologist Megan Davies said the illness is likely related to animal contact, though the study did not implicate any specific animal or breed in the outbreak.
“We know that E. coli 0157 is often found in the intestines of ruminant animals, which include cows, goats and sheep,” Davies said. “These bacteria are shed in the animal’s feces, so if it is on the animal itself or surfaces around the animal that someone touches, the bacteria can be transmitted to that person.”
North Carolina officials are investigating 27 cases related to the North Carolina State Fair outbreak. To date, they have confirmed 11 cases. Of the 11 confirmed cases, 10 were confirmed by the State Laboratory of Public Health as being E. coli 0157:H7 with matching PFGE patterns (DNA fingerprinting). The 11th case did not have laboratory confirmation of E.coli O157:H7, but had hemolytic uremic syndrome, an uncommon, but serious complication of E. coli 0157:H7 infection. The remaining 16 cases were clinically confirmed as connected to the outbreak, meaning they had symptoms consistent with E. coli 0157:H7.
The latest numbers and counties involved include the following:
Wake – 13
Sampson – 6
Cleveland – 1
Durham – 1
Johnston – 1
Lenoir – 1
Orange – 2
Wilson – 2
“This outbreak highlights the need for more protective measures at animal exhibits. Young children are most at risk. The burden should not be placed on parents, but fair officials and animal exhibitors need to make sure the animals are clean and tested,” said Attorney Fred Pritzker, who represents E. coli victims and is representing a young boy who contracted E. coli from a petting zoo in 2010.
The Kelley Building was implicated after a carefully conducted case-control study involving 27 individuals identified as having contracted E. coli after attending the fair in October and another 87 individuals who attended the fair, but did not get sick. Investigators from the Division of Public Health did phone and in-person interviews using a survey tool developed for this purpose that asked a comprehensive series of questions about activities at the fair. Activities included animal exhibits, foods, rides and attractions.
Arapahoe County Jail E. coli Outbreak in Colorado
Six people housed at the Arapahoe County jail have come down with E. coli poisoning prompting an investigation by the state and Tri-County Health Departments. Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson told News 9 that the jail had six confirmed cases on Friday and 14 inmates have come down with symptoms of E. coli. One inmate had to be treated at the hospital for dehydration, which if severe enough can cause high blood pressure and other complications. All of the people sickened lived in Pod 3.
The source of the outbreak is not yet known, and in cases like this involving inmates, it is best for families to hire an E. coli lawyer to help with the investigation and to protect the E. coli victims’ rights. Contact our E. coli lawyers for a free consultation.
Source: http://www.9news.com/news/local/article/228582/346/E-coli-outbreak-in-county-jail
North Carolina State Fair and E. coli Connection Investigated: Victims in Wake, Sampson and other NC Counties
The N.C. Division of Public Health reports that it is now investigating 26 cases related to the E. coli outbreak associated with attendance at the North Carolina State Fair. Ten cases are confirmed cases of E. coli infection; 16 cases are still being investigated. Five people are hospitalized: four children and one adult. The children are fighting a complication of E. coli called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), where Shiga toxins released from E. coli organisms attack a person’s red blood cells. Kidney failure, stroke, heart attacks, pancreatitis and brain injuries can result. A related complication of E. coli is thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), which is also caused by the Shiga toxins and can cause kidney failure, but primarily affects the central nervous system.
23 of the 26 persons involved in the investigation report having attended the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh. This is sufficient evidence for public health investigators to consider the North Carolina State Fair as the probable exposure for the outbreak. Public health officials will be contacting some fairgoers in the next phase of their investigation as they try to pinpoint the specific source, which could be an animal exhibit, food or water. Victims and their families can contact our E. coli attorneys for a free consultation to help them understand what legal rights they have and how to protect them.
The latest numbers and counties involved:
| Wake |
14 |
| Sampson |
6 |
| Cleveland |
1 |
| Durham |
1 |
| Franklin |
1 |
| Johnston |
1 |
| Orange |
1 |
| Wilson |
1 |
Of the 26 cases under investigation, 13 are adults and 13 are children. Samples continue to arrive at the state lab and testing will be performed through the weekend.
