Food Poisoning Law Blog : Food Poisoning Lawyer & Attorney : PritzkerLaw : Food Safety, Outbreaks & Recalls

Franklin County, Pennsylvania, accounts for half of the 36 Pennsylvania Campylobacter illnesses that are so far linked  to an outbreak associated with raw milk from a dairy farm in the county seat of Chambersburg. Franklin County is the No. 2 dairy producing county in Pennsylvania and it includes the towns of Mercersburg, Green Castle, Waynesboro and Shippensburg.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health said late Monday in its latest update on the outbreak  that Maryland, New Jersey and West Virginia also have detected illnesses from the outbreak strain of Campylobacter, a pathogen that can lead to respiratory failure and acute muscular paralysis. In all, there were 43 confirmed cases when the state issued its report. Investigators believe more cases will be reported in the coming days.

A public health laboratory in Maryland confirmed last week that two unopened containers of raw milk from The Family Cow dairy in Franklin County contained the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni. And many of the outbreak patients told investigators they had consumed raw milk from The Family Cow before getting ill.

The outbreak and its cause are under investigation by national food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., Fred Pritzker, the firm's president and founder, currently represents a Pennsylvania family in a raw milk Campylobacter lawsuit. He can be contacted via the Web or by calling 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). Our legal group has won millions for victims of food poisoning while also actively working in various campaigns to defeat foodborne illness.

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Sixteen people in Pennsylvania and four in Maryland have suffered campylobacteriosis in the past several weeks and all of them have consumed raw milk from the Chambersburg, Pa., farm known as The Family Cow.

That's what state health officials have told reporter David Wenner of The Patriot-News, painting a picture of a raw milk outbreak that has sent some of its victims to the hospital. The epidemiological evidence of causality was strong enough after the first illnesses were confirmed late last week for Maryland and Pennsylvania public health officials to alert consumers not to drink any Family Cow raw milk purchased since January 1. That consumer advisory is still in effect as investigators await smoking gun molecular evidence that the outbreak strain of Campylobacter is in the milk.

While those test results have been in process, owners of the farm have been quoted in various media reports, casting doubt that the outbreak was caused by The Family Cow, a farm operation that also sells organic meat and other products.

Food safety lawyers from PritzkerOlsen, P.A., have begun their own investigation of this outbreak and are accepting cases from individuals and families who have been sickened. Free consultations are available at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or simply leave your contact information and an attorney will call you. Our firm is one of the very few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and currently represents a Pennsylvania family in a raw milk Campylobacter lawsuit .

Over the years, PritzkerOlsen has collected millions for victims of food poisoning while also working actively in various campaigns to prevent life-threatening contamination of our food supply. President and founder Fred Pritzker is currently a board member at STOP Foodborne Illness Board of Directors. STOP is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of illness and death from foodborne pathogents. 

Raw milk has become popular with some people who believe it has superior nutrition because it's not heated to kill germs like pasteurized milk. Studies, however, have not confirmed this, and federal and state authorities continue to warn about microscopic fecal contamination in milk products that are not pasteurized.  One of the repeated complications that arise from Campylobacter infection is GBS, or Guillain-Barre' Syndrome. GBS patients can suffer respiratory failure and acute muscular paralysis that impairs motor function and cause life-long harm, pain and suffering.

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A Pennsylvania and Maryland Campylobacter outbreak has been linked to raw milk from the Family Cow Dairy Store in Chambersburg, Pa. At least six people are ill, three from each state, and health officials in Pennsylvania and Maryland have issued a warning about raw milk purchased from the Family Cow since January 1, 2012.

It's illegal to sell unpasteurized milk in Maryland, but some consumers told authorities they have purchased the milk at pre-determined drop-off points.

Campylobacter jejuni is one of several harmful bacteria associated with unpasteurized milk. An infection from this pathogen can lead to several forms of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Some of the more commonly encountered effects of GBS are limb and respiratory weakness, loss of reflexes and paralysis. Miller Fisher syndrome is a subtype of GBS.

A Pennsylvania Campylobacter raw milk lawsuit was filed in 2010 by local counsel in Allegheny County. The case is headed by national food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker and attorneys from his firm, PritzkerOlsen, P.A. The victims of raw milk contamination in that case are a husband and wife and the defendants include the raw milk producer and the retail store that sold the product. The case revolves around very serious injuries to the husband, who suffered acute neuromuscular paralysis from the neck down.

Mr. Pritzker and his staff are investigating the Family Cow Dairy Store outbreak and accepting cases from those who were sickened. Call for a free case consultation at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or leave your contact information and a lawyer will call you to discuss your claim and answer any questions. PritzkerOlsen is one of the very few legal groups in the U.S. practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and has collected millions for victims of food poisoning.

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Food safety attorney Brendan Flaherty answers frequently asked questions about Campylobacter.

What is Campylobacter?

Campylobacter is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 2.4 million people are sickened by Campylobacter every year.

If someone eats food contaminated with Campylobacter bacteria, they can get sick with an illness called campylobacteriosis. Typical symptoms for campylobacteriosis include abdominal cramping and pain, diarrhea and fever. Sometimes there is also nausea and vomiting and the diarrhea can be bloody. Symptoms usually begin within two to five days after exposure and can last up to a week.

In severe cases, it can spread to the bloodstream and cause a serious illness or death. We have represented people who ate food contaminated with Campylobacter and then developed Guillain-Barré syndrome, a condition in which the body damages its own nerve cells, resulting in muscle weakness and, in some cases, paralysis.

How does food get contaminated with Campylobacter?

Campylobacter is associated with raw or undercooked poultry products. A flock of chickens can be infected with Campylobacter and show no symptoms. Then, during slaughter, the bacteria can be transferred from the intestines to the cuts of meat. Raw milk can also be contaminated if the cow has an infection in or manure on her udder.

How can consumers avoid getting campylobacteriosis?

The best way to avoid getting campylobacteriosis is to follow basic food handling practices. Before touching anything else after handling raw foods, wash your hands with soap and warm running water. Use separate cutting boards for meat and other foods. Cook all poultry products thoroughly. The best way to tell is to use a meat thermometer to make sure it has reached a minimum internal temperature of 165 °F.

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The Wyoming Department of Health is reporting a four-fold increase statewide in Campylobacter bacterial infections this summer--29 cases since June 1. At least six people have been hospitalized. Campylobacter infection can cause Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), which occurs when the immune system is triggered to attack the body's nerves. It can lead to paralysis and usually requires intensive care for weeks.  Attorney Fred Pritzker has one Campylobacter-GBS client who is permanently paralyzed.

Wyoming health officials are not sure of the source or sources of these Campylobacter infections. “While the increase in these infections appears to be sporadic with no single common source, it’s clear that animal-related illness is at least partially driving the increase,” said Kelly Weidenbach, epidemiologist with the department’s Infectious Disease Epidemiology Program.

Among patients interviewed to date, exposure to animals, especially cattle and dogs, has been common. “In many cases, the animals were noted to be ill with diarrhea when the person had contact with them,” Weidenbach said. “Several have been ranchers or individuals who recently attended a cattle branding and who were accidentally exposed to fecal material.”

Campylobacter infection is common in farm animals and certain pets. A single ill calf can shed millions of bacteria in its feces. Campylobacter bacteria are also common in the feces of ill puppies and kittens. Campylobacter often causes illness in young animals, but infected older animals often have no symptoms. Humans are exposed to the bacteria in the fecal material and then become sick. 

The Wyoming Public Health Laboratory, also part of the Wyoming Department of Health, performs genetic fingerprinting on the Campylobacter bacteria found in ill residents. Lab personnel have tracked strains of Campylobacter common to both humans and animals. These lab results, combined with patient histories, support the animal-human explanation for many reported cases.

“We want residents to be aware of this increase in human illness, and we want them to take actions to prevent illness among themselves and their family members,” Weidenbach said.

Recommended precautions include:

• Washing hands with soap and water before eating or other hand-to-mouth contact.
• If ill with diarrhea, wash hands frequently to minimize the chance of spreading the illness to others. Campylobacter is transmitted in feces.
• Those ill with diarrhea who handle food for other people, work in a daycare/childcare setting or work as a healthcare provider with direct patient contact should stay out of work until at least 48 hours after the last bout of diarrhea or vomiting.
• Those who work or volunteer where they have contact with animals should wear gloves while working and wash hands before moving to a different activity. Animals often have fecal material on their bodies. Wash hands thoroughly before drinking, eating or putting anything in the mouth.
• Avoid consuming unpasteurized milk or products made from unpasteurized milk. Raw milk is often contaminated with fecal bacteria from the cows. 

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An outbreak of campylobacteriosis  in San Joaquin County, California, spiked up last summer and has continued into this year, but the source of the food poisonings is still under investigation. San Joaquin County Health Officer Dr. Karen Furst told the Stockton Record newspaper that the county recorded 233 Campylobacter infections last year compared to 135 in 2009.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), outbreaks of Campylobacter jejuni are usually associated with unpasteurized milk or contaminated water. The bacteria also is commonly associated with poultry.

Most people who become ill with campylobacteriosis get diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and fever within two to five days after exposure to the organism. The diarrhea may be bloody and can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The illness typically lasts one week. Some infected persons do not have any symptoms. In persons with compromised immune systems, Campylobacter occasionally spreads to the bloodstream and causes a serious life-threatening infection known as Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS).

There are several forms of Guillain-Barré syndrome, but some of the more commonly encountered effects are limb and respiratory weakness, and loss of reflexes. National food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., currently represents GBS patients who became sick from Campylobacter -- including a Pennsylvania man who was left paralyzed in an outbreak caused by contaminated raw milk. For answers to legal questions, call a Campylobacter lawyer at our firm at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our contact form. All consultations are free.

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Five people in business, government and non-profits were recognized at this year's Food Safety Summit in Washington, D.C., as winners of the NSF International Food Safety Leadership Awards. NSF is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization that develops standards and product certifications in multiple fields while focused on public health in food, water, indoor air and the environment.

Deservedly, this year's group of winners includes Nancy Donley, president of STOP Foodborne Illness, a national nonprofit public health organization dedicated to the prevention of illness and death from E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria and other foodborne pathogens.

Here's a complete list of the 2011 NSF food safety award winners, including three companies:

• Brenda Halbrook, Director Office of Food Safety, USDA, Food and Nutrition Service - Winner Education
• David Ludwig, Manager Environmental Health Division, Maricopa County Environmental Services Department - Winner System Improvement
• Publix Super Markets, Inc. - Winner Training
• National Pasteurized Eggs - Winner Technology Breakthroughs
• Jill Hollingsworth, SVP Food Safety Programs, Food Marketing Institute (FMI) - Winner Lifetime Achievement in Industry and Association Food Safety
• Donald Sharp, Deputy Director Food Safety Office, Center for Disease Control, US Department of Health and Human Services - Winner Lifetime Achievement in Public Health Food Safety
• Nancy Donley, President, Safe Tables Our Priority (S.T.O.P.) - Winner - Lifetime Achievement in Consumer Advocacy Food Safety
• International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI) - Winner - Trendsetter

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Raw milk E. coli deaths and raw milk Campylobacter outbreaks won't get much attention today in Washington, D.C., when supporters of raw milk rally against public health protections that restrict the distribution of what scientists know to be a dangerous food.

The Food and Drug Administration is one of the targets. To protect public health and put limits on the business of selling unpasteurized milk, the FDA wisely uses its interstate commerce authority to block distribution of raw milk across state lines. But Contgressman Ron Paul has just introduced legislation attempting to legalize those sales.

Grassfed on the Hill, a D.C. area private milk buying group and target of a recent FDA sting on purchasing raw milk, has organized the Capitol Hill rally where they plan to milk an actual cow and drink the fresh milk. The rally is expected to draw hundreds of raw milk supporters.

From a public health policy viewpoint, this latest P.R. stunt by raw milk enthusiasts will certainly obscure or distort the risks that people -- especially children -- face from consumption of milk not pasteurized to kill microscopic pathogens that can cause serious illness and death. The organisms can pass through a cow's udders and also enter the milk supply through cow feces in the milking environment. 

The mainstream view that unpasteurized milk is unsafe is held by local, state and federal health officials from coast to coast, including FDA, CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association. The FDA simply wants to protect the public from disease.

Raw milk has been found to contain numerous pathogens that can cause serious illness, including Campylobacter, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Listeria, and Brucella.  Ppasteurization was developed many years ago  to reduce diseases that were commonly caused by raw milk.

Getting sick from one of these germs can lead to a wide variety of illness. Some germs cause diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, fever, headache, and body aches lasting for a couple of days to several weeks. Most healthy people with this type of illness recover, but hospitalization rates are usually 10-30%. Severe complications can include bloodstream infections, a polio-like paralysis, kidney failure, and death.  For example, E. coli O157:H7 infections lead to a severe complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in 10% of children and HUS is fatal 5% of the time. In addition HUS survivors often suffer from lifelong medical issues, including the need for kidney transplants in some.

Illnesses from raw milk are particularly dangerous for people with weakened immune systems, such as the elderly, children, and people with cancer, an organ transplant, or HIV/AIDS. Germs found in raw milk and raw dairy products can be especially dangerous to pregnant women, sometimes leading to abortion, stillbirth, or severe disease in newborns. 

If you or a loved one has been sickened in an outbreak caused by raw milk, contact national food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). Our law firm is one of the very few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness, recovering millions for victims of food poisoning. 

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Campylobacter in chickens and turkeys is the riskiest food contamination based on the public health impact found in a study by the University of Florida's Emerging Pathogens Institute. The study said Campylobacter bacteria sicken 600,000 Americans every year because of inadequate oversight.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)  is a  feared complication of Campylobacter. There are several forms of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), making the range of symptoms wide as well, but some of the more commonly encountered effects are limb and respiratory weakness, and loss of reflexes. Miller Fisher syndrome is a subtype of GBS.

In essence, study authors make a case for regulators to focus food safety oversight on the 10 riskiest pairs of bacteria and food.  It found that the 10 combinations cost the economy $8 billion a year and 37,000 Quality-Adjusted Life Years, a measure of disease burden that factors in pain, suffering and a disease's impact on normal activities.

"The number of hazards and scale of the food system make for a critical challenge for consumers and government alike," lead author Michael Batz said in a statement. "Government agencies must work together to effectively target their efforts. If we don't identify which pairs of foods and microbes present the greatest burden, we'll waste time and resources and put even more people at risk."

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The last outbreak of Campylobacter infection occurred one year ago in a cluster of illnesses in Michigan that also prompted health warnings in Illinois and Indiana. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), working with state partners, associated the outbreak with raw milk produced on a farm in Middlebury, Indiana.

A separate raw milk Campylobacter outbreak happened in Pennsylvania at about the same time, resulting in a tragic case of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) in a 67-year-old man from Mars, Pennsylvania.

Though not as common as outbreaks of E. coli and Salmonella, foodborne disease caused by Campylobacter bacteria can be just as menacing.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), campylobacteriosis causes an incidence of about 13 cases per 100,000 population diagnosed in the United States annually. About 124 people per year in the U.S. die from it. Raw cow's milk is a common vehicle for transmission of campylobacteriosis, but the bacteria also is found in almost all raw poultry because it lives in the intestinal track of healthy birds.

Complications of infection can include meningitis, urinary tract infections, reactive arthritis and Guillain-Barre syndrome. GBS is an unusual type of paralysis. It can last for weeks to months. Most people eventually recover completely or nearly completely, but some people have permanent nerve damage and about 5 percent of  people who develop GBS die. Paralysis of the muscles that control breathing also is a mark of Guillain-Barré. Lawyer Fred Pritzker of national food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen has handled multiple cases of GBS litigation resulting from Campylobacter infection.

Unlike other dreaded medical conditions, campylobacteriosis and GBS are preventable and the lawyers at PritzkerOlsen are actively involved in efforts to stop outbreaks and prevent the spread of all harmful pathogens in the U.S. food supply. As a representative for victims of food poisoning, we hold food purveyors responsible for the costly harms caused by contaminated milk, meat, processed food and produce of all kinds. For a free case consultation with a Campylobacter lawyer, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our contact form and a lawyer will call you. 

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Campylobacter outbreak investigations may get a boost from USDA research that has hit upon a faster way to identify the foodborne pathogen. Standard methodology requires the better part of a week for lab personnel to isolate the bacteria, which can cause severe illness and death. Now USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have developed a way to identify Campylobacter in less than 24 hours after the bacteria is plated. The process is called hyperspectral imaging, a combination of digital imaging with spectroscopy.

According to a USDA research brief, ARS scientists say samples are placed on solid media in a Petri dish. Hyperspectral imaging provides hundreds of individual wavelength measurements for each image pixel. This "sensing" technology, which was nearly 100 percent accurate with pure cultures of the microorganisms, could be used for early detection of presumptive Campylobacter colonies in cultures of mixed bacteria, USDA said. The researchers are working toward developing a presumptive screening technique to detect Salmonella and Campylobacter in food samples.

According to the latest estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 845,000 people a year in the U.S. become infected with Campylobacter. Of those, more than 100 people died. 

People infected by Campylobacter jejuni risk the onset of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), which can take on several form with a wide range of symptoms. But some of the more commonly encountered effects are limb and respiratory weakness, and loss of reflexes. Research indicates that 20 percent GBS cases may have significant and lasting neurologic effects.

If you or a loved one has contracted Campylobacter  from poultry products, raw milk or other food source, contact a Campylobacter lawyer at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., for a free consultation on whether you should pursue a financial claim or possible Campylobacter lawsuit. Our firm currently represents a Pennsylvania man who drank raw milk contaminated with the organism and his severe illness from the bacteria caused him long-term paralysis. Call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our contact form online and a lawyer will contact you. 

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In the video below, Brendan Flaherty, a Campylobacter lawyer in Minnesota, discusses Campylobacter food poisoning and a case our firm is litigating that involves raw milk.  Our client consumed raw milk contaminated with Campylobacter and developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).  Our client remains paralyzed to this day.

Hartmann Dairy Farm Linked to Campylobacter and Criptosporidium Infections

Outbreaks of campylobacteriosis and criptosporidiosis in Minnesota have been linked to raw dairy products from the Hartmann Dairy Farm in Gibbon, MN, Sibley County. According to epidemiologists with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), three people are infected with Campylobacter jejuni, the bacterium that causes campylobacteriosis. In addition, four people are infected with Cryptosporidium parvum, a parasite that causes cryptosporidiosis, also known as "Crypto."

Laboratory tests found that the Cryptosporidium parasites and Campylobacter bacteria in most of the ill people were genetically identical to organisms found in animal and environmental samples taken on the Hartmann farm this past summer during an investigation of an E. coli outbreak linked to raw milk from the farm.

“We’re concerned that people are continuing to get sick after consuming products from this farm,” said Kirk Smith, the health department's Foodborne Diseases Unit supervisor. “We’re also concerned that some people who became ill were given the Hartmann dairy product by friends or neighbors who did not tell them the source.”

Our Minnesota personal injury lawyers have a national practice in the area of food poisoning litigation.  To contact Attorney Brendan Flaherty or another attorney at our law firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our online form for a free consultation.

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Health officials in New York are investigating an outbreak of Campylobacter  that has sickened at least seven people who ate at Hinerwadel's Grove in Syracuse, an establishment that has specialized in clam bakes for the past 91 years.

The Hinerwadel's Campylobacter announcement came from Dr. Cynthia Morrow, commissioner of health for Onondaga County. Dr. Morrow said in a news release that her agency is working with the New York State Department of Health to determine the source of the infection.

The seven confirmed cases ate at Hinerwadel's on September 15 and Dr. Morrow requests that anyone who became ill after eating at this facility on or after September 15 contact the Health Department. She anticipates that the number of people associated with this outbreak will grow . Meanwhile, the public is advised to seek treatment  from their health care provider if they are experiencing persistent symptoms of gastrointestinal illness. 

Campylobacter  infection is characterized by diarrheal illness, usually accompanied by fever, and abdominal cramps. Almost 99 percent of Campylobacteriosis is caused by Campylobacter jejuni. In rare cases, Campylobacter can cause Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a servere illness that can lead to paralysis and death.

Typically, GBS associated with Campylobacter jejuni follows 1-3 weeks after infection and patients generally recover within weeks to months. However, there is a 2-3% mortality rate and 20% of GBS cases may have significant and lasting neurologic effects.

Victims of the Hinerwadel's Campylobacter outbreak who are seeking compensation for medical bills, lost wages, travel expense and other costs can present their case to an experienced Campylobacter attorney at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., at 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or by completing the contact form on the side of this Web page.

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Campylobacteriosis is a bacterial disease caused by Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter coli.

Campylobacter usually causes a mild to severe infection of the gastrointestinal system, including watery or bloody diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Indirect transmission of the bacteria through consumption of contaminated food or water is the most common route of infection.

Public Health Officials in Gallatin County have confirmed cases of Campylobacter infection in the West Yellowstone area and believe the cause may be contaminated well water at the Campfire Lodge Resort Public Water Supply System. They believe 80 people may have been sickened by the outbreak.

As the investigation continues, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality is recommending that water be boiled before use for human consumption, or that individuals should purchase bottled water.

Law firm Pritzker Olsen is conducting its own investigation and gathering information from those sickened in the Montana Campylobacter outbreak at Camfire Lodge in the Hebgen Lake area.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed as having Campylobacter, our firm can answer legal questions about a possible Campylobacter lawsuit filed in Montana. To reach an attorney for this free case consultation, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on this Web page.

Campylobacter is a common type of foodborne or waterborne illness, but it should not be taken lightly. In a small percentage of cases, patients may develop Guillain-Barre Syndrome, which can lead to paralysis or death.

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The Utah County Health Department (UCHD) continues its epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of Campylobacter in the Saratoga Springs area. To date, of the reported cases of Campylobacter in this outbreak, 17 are confirmed and 333 are probable.

Attorney Elliot Olsen has recently settled a case were water sickened a young child.  Contact Mr. Olsen for more information.

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 A 67-year-old Pittsburgh area man remains paralyzed and under intensive care at UPMC Presbyterian hospital after being sickened by raw milk produced by Pasture Maid Creamery of New Castle.

The Campylobacter infection suffered by James Orchard developed into Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), a disorder that attacks the central nervous system. National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is representing Mr. Orchard and his wife, Maureen, who also was sickened by the raw milk.

"Nobody can give you a timeline. With everyone, it's different. And he needs extensive physical therapy, and what that will entail, we have no idea," Maureen Orchard told WTAE-TV.

WTAE-TV Team 4 investigator Jim Parsons featured the case, which has gained national attention at a time when a vocal minority of raw milk ethusiasts is pushing for state restrictions to be lifted on the sale of unpasteurized dairy products.

In Pennsylvania, the sale of raw milk and other dairy products is permitted  if produced by a licensed farm. In the Orchards' case, the contaminated milk was purchased at the McGinnis Sisters food store in Mars, Pa. 

Paul Hoge, from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, said state law allows dairy farms to sell raw milk, but he doesn't recommend buying it. The state agriculture department has suspended Pasture Maid's milk production permit.

Health inspectors had detected Campylobacter at the dairy operation and in the milk bottles purchased by the Orchards. Stool samples confirmed it was Campylobacter that made Mr. Orchard sick.

As Team 4 reported, this was not the first time Pasture Maid drew the attention of Pennsylvania officials.

Unbeknownst  to the Orchards, just a year earlier, in February 2009, the Pennsylvania Departments of Health and Agriculture advised consumers who purchased raw milk from Dean Farms DBA Pasture Maid Creamery, LLC, to immediately discard raw milk purchased there due to potential bacterial infection.

Team 4 said it left several messages for farm owner Adam Dean, but those messages were not returned.

Pritzker Olsen is preparing a raw milk Campylobacter lawsuit in the case and is accepting additional clients from others sickened by the contamination. For a free case consultation, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page. 

Our firm is actively involved in various efforts to prevent foodborne illness, including advocacy for a public ban on raw milk sales. Over the years we have collected millions for victims of food poisoning.

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The Wisconsin state Senate has made the terrible mistake of approving legislation that will legalize sales of unpasteurized milk to the public. The measure passed 25-8 and will go to the Assembly next week for a floor vote.

In approving the bill, the Senate rejected the medical advice of The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, state and county health officials in Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Farm Bureau.

It is a scientific fact that raw milk is unsafe for human consumption because it can contain microscopic pathogens such as E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella,  and Campylobacter. Pasteurization kills these organisms without affecting the nutritional qualities of milk.

Just this week in Pennsylvania, a 67-year-old man is paralyzed and on life support after suffering complications from an infection of Campylobacter from raw milk. The family of the man, James Orchard, has retained national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen to represent them. Pritzker Olsen founder and president Fred Pritzker is preparing a lawsuit against the milk maker, Dean Farms doing business as Pasture Maid, LLC, a creamery located in New Castle, PA.

Mr. Orchard has been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. One of the most common antecedent events to those who suffer from GBS is prior infection with Campylobacter.

On April 5, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture suspended the permit that allows Dean Farms to sell unpasteurized milk. The action came after testing found Campylobacter in its raw milk samples.

In Wisconsin, raw milk supporters have successfully used the argument of free choice, ignoring dangers that can't be protected against. For instance, the CDC has said that some cows excrete Campylobacter and other dangerous bacteria from their udders. Milk can also be contaminated by the farm environment, where bacteria from manure can spread and cause disease.

Wisconsin Senator Judy Robson, a retired nurse, was one of the few voices of reason:  "We don't appreciate public health until we don't have it,'' she said.

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle has said he would sign a raw milk bill into law under the right circumstances, setting a horrible example for the rest of the country. 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PITTSBURG -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- April 15, 2010 -- Pritzker Olsen, P.A., the national food safety law firm, has been retained by the family of a Pittsburgh-area man on life support after consuming raw milk adulterated with Campylobacter bacteria. 

James Orchard, a 67 year-old from Mars, Pennsylvania, was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. One of the most common antecedent events to those who suffer from GBS is prior infection with Campylobacter. Except for minimal head and eye movement, Orchard is totally paralyzed. 

Several days prior to the onset of his illness, Orchard and other members of his family, consumed raw milk purchased at the McGinnis Sisters Special Foods Store in Mars, PA on March 16, 2010. The raw milk was produced by Dean Farms doing business as Pasture Maid, LLC, a creamery located in New Castle, PA.

According to a recent press release from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, “the permit for Pasture Maid Creamery in New Castle, Lawrence County, to sell raw milk for human consumption was suspended April 5 after testing found Campylobacter in its raw milk samples.”

Stool samples obtained from Mr. Orchard also tested positive for Campylobacter. Milk from the bottles produced by Dean Farms doing business as Pasture Maid, LLC and purchased at the McGinnis Sisters store tested positive for the pathogen as well.

“The fact that the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture obtained positive samples from Pasture Maid at about the same time Mr. Orchard became ill coupled with his positive stool and milk samples makes the chain of causation very strong,” according to Attorney Fred Pritzker, president of the law firm.

This was not the first time Pasture Maid drew the attention of Pennsylvania officials. Just a year earlier, in February 2009, the Pennsylvania Departments of Health and Agriculture advised consumers who purchased raw milk from Dean Farms DBA Pasture Maid Creamery, LLC, to immediately discard raw milk purchased there due to potential bacterial infection.

Although some organizations and individuals fervently believe in the benefits of raw milk consumption, scientists and food safety advocates are virtually united in condemning its sale to the public. “Promoting the consumption of raw milk is the equivalent of promoting consumption of raw hamburger,” commented Pritzker. “It’s irresponsible and dangerous, no matter what advocates claim.”

Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized. Pasteurization, a “kill step,” destroys pathogens like Campylobacter. Raw milk is an important vehicle in the transmission of Campylobacter and other foodborne pathogens including:

Enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus
Campylobacter jejuni
Salmonella species
E. coli (EHEC) (ETEC)
Listeria monocytogenes
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Mycobacterium bovis
Brucella species (abortus –cattle) (melitensis- goats)
Coxiella burnetii
Yersinia enterocolitica

Even after an initial outbreak of Campylobacter and the temporary suspension of milk sales in early 2009, both Dean Farms, DBA Pasture Maid Creamery, LLC and McGinnis Sisters Special Foods Store continued to sell and promote raw milk as a healthy food option.

“A summons and complaint brought on behalf of the Orchard family will be served and filed on Dean Farms DBA Pasture Maid Creamery, LLC and McGinnis Food Center, Inc. DBA McGinnis Sisters Special Food Stores in the next few days,” Pritzker said. “Companies that sell unsafe products have to be held accountable for the harms and losses they cause.”

Pritzker Olsen law firm, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, represents individuals and families in cases involving foodborne illness. The firm is involved in virtually every major foodborne illness outbreak and has successfully obtained some of the largest verdicts and settlements in foodborne illness cases. Attorney Fred Pritzker can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE).

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An outbreak of Campylobacter associated with raw milk from Forest Grove Dairy has spread to Indiana and Illinois for a total of 17 confirmed cases. Additional unconfirmed illnesses are considered to be part of the outbreak, which began in Michigan.

Pam Pontones, an Indiana state epidemiologist, said all the sick people drank unpasteurized milk from Indiana's Forest Grove Dairy provided by Family Farm Cooperative of Vandalia, Michigan. She said no other common factor has been identified and investigators are asking any buyers of Forest Grove raw milk to submit the product for free laboratory testing. (Call 317-233-7360)

The Indiana State Department of Health announced in a press release that three outbreak cases are confirmed in Indiana. Meanwhile, the Kalamazoo Gazette newspaper is reporting that Michigan now has 13 confirmed cases and Illinois has one.

All three states have joined forces with the Food and Drug Administration in alerting consumers to this raw milk Campylobacter risk. Their joint investigation into the outbreak should address why Family Farm Cooperative and Forest Grove Dairy engaged in shipping raw milk across state lines.

Forest Grove Dairy received an FDA Warning Letter in 2007 for allegedly distributing unpasteurized milk in interstate commerce. 

Since 1987, the FDA has required all milk packaged for human consumption to be pasteurized before being delivered for introduction into interstate commerce. Pasteurization, a process that heats milk to a specific temperature for a set period of time, kills bacteria responsible for diseases, such asE. coli HUS, listeriosis, salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, diphtheria and brucellosis. 

If consumers of raw milk are experiencing diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain or fever,  they should contact their health care provider immediately. For answers to legal questions, victims of this outbreak may call national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen for a free case consultation at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). To reach a lawyer online, complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.

Our firm is a leading practitioner of foodborne illness litigation and has represented victims of raw milk outbreaks, including those who became hospitalized and seriously ill. Over the years we have collected million for victims of food poisoning and have become recognized by news organizations as outbreak experts.

With Campylobacter, other symptoms may include nausea and vomiting. The illness typically lasts one week.  In persons with compromised immune systems, Campylobacter occasionally spreads to the bloodstream and causes Guilliain-Barre syndrome,  a serious life-threatening infection. 

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The Illinois Department of Health is warning state residents they could get sick from raw milk and are especially concerned about raw milk distributed by a Michigan company that came from a certain dairy in Indiana..

Unpasteurized milk from Forest Grove Dairy of Middlebury, Indiana, is associated with an outbreak of Campylobacter in south and southeast Michigan that has sickened at least 18 people. Illinois issued its warning after learning Forest Grove Dairy raw milk was distributed across state lines from Michigan to Des Plaines, Downers Grove, Elgin and Chicago.

The distributor, which is involved in a so-called cow-sharing circle, is identified in the news release as Family Farms Cooperative of Vandalia, Michigan.

The Illinois Department of Public Health said the state and local health departments will be following up on any other reports of illness linked to raw milk consumption. They urge residents who have consumed raw dairy products and have become ill to contact a physician and be tested for Campylobacter infection.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is answering legal questions from victims of this outbreak. To contact a Campylobacter attorney, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete a contact form on the side of this Web page.

According to a Food and Drug Administration document, federal regulators issued a Warning Letter to Forest Grove Dairy on Feb. 8, 2007, for "documented violations of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) and a Federal regulation promulgated under the PHS Act."

The letter -- obviously related to raw products -- said the dairy was the target of a joint investigation by the FDA, the Indiana Board of Animal Health, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture, 

"Our investigation determined that your firm distributes [redacted] and [redacted] in interstate commerce, in finished form for human consumption. Such distribution is a violation of the PHS Act, 42 U.S.C. § 271(a), and the regulation codified in Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), section 1240.61(a) The regulation prohibits the delivery into interstate commerce of [redacted] and [redacted] in final package form for direct human consumption unless they have been pasteurized.'' 

Phyllis Entis, a veteran microbiologist and food safety expert, has made a pointed observation about the Michigan Campylobacter outbreak and the situation in Illinois much to our liking.

While cow-share supporters drink raw milk because it ostensibly is a high-quality product supplied by a "known'' local farmer, she says the milk in this outbreak is not local, not fresh and not safe.

"Cow share programs are paper-pushing devices used to circumvent state laws prohibiting the retail sale of raw milk for human consumption and federal law against interstate shipment of raw milk for human consumption,'' Entis writes.

The Illinois warning is straight-forward, scientific and also to our liking:

Raw milk can cause serious infections. Raw milk and raw milk products (such as cheeses and yogurts made with raw milk) can be contaminated with bacteria that can cause serious illness, hospitalization, or death. Pasteurization is the best method of eliminating disease-causing organisms in milk and the only method routinely used in the United States.

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 The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is investigating an outbreak of Campylobacter among young children and others who drank raw milk from a cow-share program.

The Michigan Campylobacter outbreak started in early March and most of the eight confirmed victims are young children, including a 2-year-old. The oldest of the eight is 51.

An MDCH press release says all Campylobacter patients in the outbreak consumed raw milk from Family Farms Cooperative in Vandalia, Michigan.

 Persons who are ill with Campylobacter symptoms and have consumed raw milk recently should consult with their medical provider and ask about being tested for Campylobacter infection.

For answers to legal questions and liability concerning food poisoning from raw milk, contact national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by completing the contact form on the side of this Web page.  

MDCH said Family Farms Cooperative operates a cow share program where members own part of a cow and in return receive raw dairy products.  The milk for the program comes from a dairy farm in Indiana and is not availabe at retail. The plastic containers of raw milk have the following information on a green and white cap: "FOREST GROVE DAIRY, MIDDLEBURY, INDIANA; RAW COW'S MILK, WARNING-NOT PASTEURIZED, 128 FL OZ."  

Cow share programs are not inspected or regulated under Michigan law. The confirmed Campylobacter cases are in Macomb, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties.  No hospitalizations have been reported to date.

Dr. Gregory Holzman, chief medical executive for MDCH, has issued a public health alert over the outbreak. He gave the following statement: "Raw or unpasteurized milk and dairy products may carry many types of disease-causing germs such as Campylobacter, Salmonella and E. Coli.''

Campylobacter is a bacterial illness causing diarrhea (often bloody), fever, and abdominal cramps 2 to 5 days after exposure.  Illness may persist for 1-2 weeks. 

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The Illinois Department of Public Health has confirmed three cases of Campylobacter jejuni and suspects at least four more resulted from consumption of home-made white cheese sold out of cars and trucks in parking lots at churches and markets in the Rockford area.

The unlabeled cheese, sold in rounds packed in clear food storage bags, has been found by the state public health laboratory to have high levels of fecal coliform and Listeria. Tests to link the Campylobacter infections to the cheese are more complicated and may not be completed until next week.

The Rockford Register Star has published a series of stories about the contaminated queso fresco cheese and the outbreak of illness, saying it is predominantly confined to the area's hispanic population. Sue Fuller, a state health department spokeswoman, told the newspaper this week that the operators have been found but will probably not be fined. Rather, she said, they would receive an education program.

The group was selling the homemade cheese at 30 to 50 locations, including at least one retail store, in violation of laws requiring registration and labeling.

"We did find out that the Listeria is Listeria monocytogenes, one of the more severe types,'' Fuller said, "and the fecal coliform is quite high, 150,000 colonies per gram, so this is considered gross contamination.''

Campylobacter is common and usually not severe in healthy adults, but can cause serious illness and death in young children, the elderly and others with weak immune systems. Listeria can cause serious diarrhea in adults and is a particular threat to pregnant women because it can cross over to the baby and cause fetal infection, miscarriage and stillbirth.

National food safety law firmPritzkerOlsen, P.A., has many years of experience representing victims and survivors of foodborne illness who have been hospitalized and disabled by adulterated food. Food poisoning attorneys at the firm can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (toll free).Free case consultations are available online.

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A raw milk dairy in western Colorado has been ordered by state regulators to stop distribution until further notice -- an action prompted by 11 cases of Campylobacter.

The shutdown of Kinikin Corner Dairy LLC of Montrose, Colorado, was ordered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The Associated Press reported Friday that 10 people who have gotten sick since March 10 reported drinking raw milk and eight of them were certain the milk came from Kinikin, a cow share operation.

Raw milk is not pasteurized to kill disease and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has identified it as an important vehicle in the transmission of Campylobacter, a foodborne pathogen that in rare cases can lead to Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a serious illness that can lead to paralysis and death.

For at least the past 20 years, the CDC has flagged raw milk as a carrier of all sorts of pathogens, including Salmonella. And as recently as January 2009, the agency created a special web broadcast, or podcast, about the dangers of raw milk.

Contact our law firm for a free Campylobacter case review. As a national food safety law firm, PritzkerOlsen, P.A., is involved in virtually every major outbreak of foodborne illness and has obtained millions for food poisoning victims. To reach a Campylobacter attorney by phone, call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free.)

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