Dee Creek Pays Fine For E Coli Violations
Dee Creek Farm has paid a fine from the state of Washington, ending their E. coli outbreak, according to The Daily News. The farm, located in Woodland, Washington, was the center of a Dec. 2005 E. coli outbreak which sickened 18 people.
Unpasteurized milk sold by Dee Creek was contaminated with E. coli, leading to the hospitalization of five children, leaving two in critical condition. When the state investigated the farm, they found various violations, including lack of a dairy license and failure to test animals for diseases. The state fined Dee Creek Farm $8000 for the violations.
According to The Daily News, Anita and Mike Puckett, owners of Dee Creek, stated that a dairy license was not needed because they did not directly sell cow milk. The Pucketts appealed the $8000 fine, but before the appeals hearing, they agreed to pay the fine. The Pucketts still claim innocence in the matter, but the state says that paying of the fine shows guilt. The Washington Legislature has since clarified matters dealing with dairy licenses.