Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Campylobacter,Campylobacter Attorney,Campylobacter Lawsuit,Campylobacter Lawyer,Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls,Raw Milk on September 19, 2023
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has issued a warning for Schuyler County area consumers of possible Campylobacter jejuni contamination in raw milk from the Sunset View Creamery. The dairy, located at 4970 County Road 14 in Odessa in New York, in accordance with New York State regulations, undergoes routine testing. This testing recently revealed the presence of Campylobacter bacteria, prompting immediate action.
Per New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets regulation, the dairy is prohibited from selling their raw milk product until additional testing finds the product free of this harmful bacterium.
What exactly is raw milk? Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized.
So, raw milk from Suset View Creamery has not been pasteurized.
Pasteurization is a heat treatment performed at a certain temperature for a specific period of time that is used to kill various types of bacteria. This time/temperature combination can vary depending on what is being pasteurized and the type of pasteurization. Low-temp pasteurization, for example, undergoes longer periods of heat cycles to achieve pasteurization and lower temperatures.
The purpose of pasteurization is to kill bacteria responsible for many different types of illnesses. This includes:
Consuming milk without the benefit of pasteurization always comes with some risk.
The state of New York allows the sale of raw milk like raw milk from Sunset View Creamery, under certain conditions. Raw milk may only be sold directly from the farm to the consumer. Whether the product is sold, donated, or gifted, a Raw Milk Sales Part 2 permit is required.
Certain criteria are necessary for the state to issue this permit.
A Brucellosis ring test must be on file with the Department’s Division of Animal Industry. This test is performed on fresh milk. This is performed by mixing colored whole-cell Brucella antigens into the milk. If Brucella bacteria are present, a colored layer will form in the cream. If no bacteria are present, the cream will not change color.
A tuberculosis test must be performed on each animal. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria can spread from the animal through the milk and infect the consumer if the milk product is not pasteurized. Every animal in the herd must be tested.
The farm must have a satisfactory farm water test on file to ensure that the water used onsite is safe.
The dairy must be enrolled in the Quality Milk Production Services Program and have a report indicating that each animal was tested for pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, among others currently indicated in the Program.
Milk samples must be tested initially and then monthly for Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli O157:H7, Campylobacter, and Staphylococci.
Routine testing of Suset View Creamery raw milk presented positive results for Campylobacter bacteria.
The producer was notified of the preliminary test result on September 12, 2023. Additional testing was performed, confirming the presence of Campylobacter jujuni on September 18, 2023 in the raw milk sample.
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has issued notice that the milk producer is “prohibited from selling raw milk until subsequent sampling indicates that the product is free of this harmful bacteria.”
The Department recommends that any consumer that purchased this potentially contaminated raw milk from Sunset View Creamer LLC dispose of it immediately and reach out to the farm.
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is an estimated 1.5 million cases of campylobacteriosis cases in the United States each year. Campylobacteriosis is the illness associated with Campylobacter bacterial infection.
This bacterial infection often comes from eating raw or undercooked poultry or coming in contact with it and eating or touching your mouth. Poultry isn’t the only source though. Seafood, meat, produce, untreated drinking water, contact with animals, and of course raw milk are other potential sources of infection.
While most people with Campylobacter infection recover on their own without medical intervention, some may need antibiotic treatment or even hospitalization to recover.
Symptoms usually include diarrhea (often bloody), fever, and stomach cramps. Some may also experience nausea and vomiting.
Most people begin feeling sick around 2 to 5 days after exposure and begin to feel better in about a week. Most people will have a full recovery, but sometimes additional complications may lead to other illnesses.
Irritable bowel syndrome, temporary paralysis, and a type of arthritis may develop. If Campylobacter bacteria leave the digestive system and spread to the bloodstream, it may lead to a life-threatening infection. These types of complications are more common in those with weakened immune systems, those with blood disorders, receiving chemotherapy, or other immune compromising conditions.
According to the Consumer Warning, there have been no confirmed illnesses reported to date associated with this product. Those who have consumed the recalled product should monitor for symptoms and seek medical attention as needed.
When there is an expectation of a food product to be healthy and free from defects, and people become sick due to negligence or other factors, the trust in our food sources suffers. If you have fallen ill after consuming the recalled raw milk from Sunset View Creamery or some other dairy producer, you may have options.
An experienced food poisoning lawyer can help answer questions you may have about compensation for medical care and other burdens incurred because of illness or injury related to raw milk contamination.
The Lange Law Firm’s Campylobacter lawyers can help. Reach out for your free consultation at (833)330-3663 or click here to email.
If you’d like to know more Food Safety Information, check out the Make Food Safe Blog. We regularly update trending topics, foodborne infections in the news, recalls, and more! Stay tuned for quality information to help keep your family safe, while The Lange Law Firm strives to Make Food Safe!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)