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

Health officials in Pennsylvania and Maryland are investigating a raw milk Campylobacter outbreak that has sickened up to 20 people who drank unpasteurized milk from the Family Cow dairy store in Chambersburg, Pa.

Campylobacter sickens more than 2.5 million Americans every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Here are five things everyone should know about Campylobacter:

1. The Most Common Causes of a Campylobacter infection
Drinking unpasteurized milk, or eating raw or undercooked meat or poultry are the most common causes of a Campylobacter infection, called campylobacteriosis.

2. A Little Goes A Long Way
Just one drop of juice from raw chicken meat is enough to infect a person, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cutting poultry or meat on a cutting board and then using the unwashed cutting board or utensil to prepare vegetables or other foods is one way to become ill.

3. Symptoms of an Infection
For those with an infection caused by Campylobacter, symptoms including diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and fever will appear two to five days after ingesting the organism. A culture of a stool sample is necessary to confirm the diagnosis.

4. Serious Complications
While most people who contract campylobacteriosis recover completely within 2 to 5 days, some Campylobacter infections can lead to serious complications including: meningitis, heart attack, hemolytic uremic syndrome, respritory distress, gall bladder inflammation, urinary tract infections, proctitis, arthritis, blood poisoning, severe dehydration and Guillain-Barrè syndrome, a type of paralysis.

5. It Can Be Fatal
Campylobacter infections can be fatal. The CDC estimates 124 Americans die from Campylobacter infections every year.

If you have legal questions about an illness caused by a Campylobacter infection, contact a food safety lawyer at PritzkerOlsen P.A. for a free consultation.

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An article in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) discusses the final report on a 2009 outbreak of Cryptosporidium infections (cryptosporidiosis) linked to a summer camp in North Carolina.

In July 2009, local, regional, state, and federal public health officials investigated a cryptosporidiosis outbreak at a youth summer camp in North Carolina. The investigation identified 46 laboratory-confirmed and probable cryptosporidiosis cases at the camp. Analyses of data from a retrospective cohort study of staff members revealed that eating ham from a sandwich bar that included camp-grown raw produce and sharing a cabin with an ill person were significantly associated with illness.

Cryptosporidium isolates from stool specimens of livestock and humans at the camp were of the identical Cryptosporidium parvum subtype, IIaA17G2R1, indicating that zoonotic transmission had occurred, and suggesting a link not implicated by traditional epidemiologic methods. [C. parvum was detected in stool specimens from one (10%) of 10 Jersey calves, two (17%) of 12 Holstein calves, one goat kid (33%) of three goats, and one piglet (50%) of two pigs.] This investigation underscores the importance of reducing the risk for Cryptosporidium transmission in camp settings and the value of Cryptosporidium subtyping as a tool to elucidate cryptosporidiosis epidemiology.

On June 24 [2009] owners of a North Carolina youth summer camp and health-care providers began identifying cases of diarrhea in campers and staff members and notified local public health officials. By June 30, local, regional, and state public health officials had identified four laboratory-confirmed cases of cryptosporidiosis and >30 cases of diarrhea at the camp. CDC was asked to collaborate on the investigation because no common outbreak exposure was identified and multiple potential outbreak sources were present at the camp. The investigation focused on identifying risk factors associated with acute cryptosporidiosis and implementing control measures to stop Cryptosporidium transmission at the camp.

At the time of the outbreak, the camp did not have a hand-washing sink in the barn area. Instead, people were encouraged to spray a diluted bleach solution on their hands before and after interacting with the calves and other livestock. After the outbreak began, the camp installed a hand-washing sink in the barn area.

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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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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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Raw milk food poisoning concerns have been pushed aside in New Jersey, where the Assembly has passed a bill to legalize the sale of unpasteurized milk. The measure advanced this week on a lopsided vote, but the New Jersey Senate has not taken action yet.

The Assembly bill in New Jersey would allow raw milk sales on the farms where it is produced. Specific testing of the product is required and the state would conduct health tests on the cows. This pending legislation goes against the public health advice of many state health departments, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the FDA, several medical groups, and other experts. That's because it is proven science that raw milk harbors dangerous pathogens, including E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella and Campylobacter.

These organisms can pass through a cow's udders, or milk received from the cows can become cross-contaminated by germs spread in milking parlors through manure. Pasteurization, a process that kills bacteria with high heat, was adapted for the very purpose of keeping people safe from foodborne illness. Raw milk enthusiasts falsely claim health benefits about raw milk and are incorrect in contending that pasteurization strips milk of valuable nutrients.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen has been representing raw milk food poisoning victims for many years and currently represents a man in Pennsylvania who was paralyzed as a result of a Campylobacter infection he contracted from contaminated raw milk sold in a health store. The man's infection developed into Guillain-Barre' Syndrome (GBS), a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system.  

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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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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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At least 80 people are ill from a Montana Campylobacter outbreak that state health officials think is linked to contaminated well water at the Campfire Lodge Resort outside West Yellowstone in the Hebgen Lake area.

Matt Kelley, health officer for the Gallatin City-County Health Department, said the suspect well has been turned off and the resort's restaurant has been closed. Until further testing is done, the resort is under a boil water advisory from the health department. 

Untreated water can carry Campylobacter due to contamination from infected animal or human feces. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services has confirmed 14 cases of Campylobacter and many others are suspected as test results are pending. 

The Campfire Lodge Campylobacter outbreak was detected from a cluster of Campylobacter infections reported in the Hebgen Lake area -- traced to the suspect well through food history interviews done by public health nurses and others.

Campylobacter causes painful diarrhea, fever and vomitting and is one of the most common forms of foodborne illness in the United States. But infections should not be taken lightly. If you or a loved one has been sickened in this outbreak, seek medical attention.  

Campylobacter symptoms can occur as early as one day, or as late as 10 days, after exposure to the organism. The illness typically lasts a week. In rare cases, Campylobacter can cause Guillain-Barré syndrome, a servere illness that can lead to paralysis and death.

Law firm Pritzker Olsen is investigating this outbreak independently of state and local health officials for a possible Campylobacter lawsuit. If you have been sickened after a stay at Campfire Lodge Resort or eating at the Camfire Lodge restaurant and have legal questions about possible compensation for your illness, contact our firm at 1-888-377-8900 or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.

Pritzker Olsen is a leading national practitioner in foodborne illness litigation and we have years of experience representing victims of Campylobacter and other forms of food poisoning. We have collected millions for our clients and as a law firm we are actively involved in efforts to reduce and eliminate human pathogens from our food supply.

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New research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) should put restaurants on notice to be extra careful in preparing and serving salsa and guacamole to avoid food poisoning.

From 1984 to 2008, restaurants and delis were the settings for 84 percent of the 136 salsa or guacamole-associated (SGA) outbreaks of foodborne disease recorded by CDC.

According to the research, salsa and guacamole-associated outbreaks accounted for 1.5 percent of all food establishment outbreaks from 1984 to 1997. This figure more than doubled to 3.9 percent during the ten-year period from 1998 to 2008.

Said Kendall:  "Awareness that salsa and guacamole can transmit foodborne illness, particularly in restaurants, is key to preventing future outbreaks."  

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In Utah, the City of Saratoga Springs Campylobacter outbreak has resulted in 15 lab confirmed cases of Campylobacter infection and many more individuals are reportedly ill with symptoms consistent with the bacteria.

The Utah County Health Department said in a news release that it has been interviewing affected individuals to find a source of the disease. As of now the only common source among cases is the public water system.

Last Thursday, Saratoga Springs issued a boil water order for residents on the north side of the city. On Friday, the city flushed the drinking water system and added chlorine to kill any lingering bacteria. The boil order  was lifted Saturday after tests were negative for coliform bacteria.

The Utah County Health Department is continuing its investigation into the disease outbreak with the City of Saratoga Springs, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, the Utah Department of Health, and other public and private organizations to determine the cause,

Campylobacteriosis is an infectious diarrheal disease that  typically lasts one week. The diarrhea may be bloody and can be accompanied by fever, nausea and vomiting. 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. This is known as Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

If you or a loved one has been sickened in this outbreak, call a Campylobacter attorney at law firm Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.

Our law firm is one of the few in the nation practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have collected millions for victims of food and water poisoning. Pritzker Olsen is involved in practically every major outbreak of foodborne illness and currently represents Camplylobacter  victims.

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A nationwide warning against consumption of raw milk has been issued by the Food and Drug Administration as the FDA joins the investigation of a Campylobacter outbreak in south Michigan associated with raw milk sold through a herd- or cow-share program.

The federal agency says there were a total of 1,614 reported illnesses, 187 hospitalizations and two deaths from consumption of raw milk between 1998 and 2008 in the United States. On average in the decade, raw milk was linked to more than eight outbreaks per year of Campylobacter, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella or other enteric disease, the FDA said.

Because not all cases of foodborne illness are recognized and reported, the actual number of illnesses associated with raw milk likely is greater.

For years, state and federal health officials have uniformly warned against consumption of raw, unpasteurized milk because it is at risk for unchecked fecal contamination that can result in potentially deadly intestinal illness in humans.

The latest warning, issued Friday by FDA in a national press release, coincides with a three-state investigation of 12 genetically matched Campylobacter illnesses in Michigan that public health officials have associated with raw milk from Forest Grove Dairy in Middlebury, Indiana. The product was sold in Michigan and Illinois by Family Farm Cooperative of Vandalia, Michigan, officials have said.

More than one sample of the milk has tested positive for Campylobacter and interviews with ill persons have shown that the milk was a common denominator in their diets.

Since March 1, 24 people in southeastern Michigan who have drunk milk from the dairy have fallen ill. That's what James McCurtis, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Community Health, told the Kalamazoo Gazette newspaper. Half the cases have not been confirmed with stool samples.

The FDA said in its press release that proponents of raw milk often claim that raw milk is more nutritious than pasteurized milk and that raw milk is inherently antimicrobial, thus making pasteurization unnecessary. But scientific comparisons have found no meaningful nutritional difference.

So, it was no surprise to read in the Kalamazoo Gazette that an attorney for Family Farm Cooperative rejects the notion that raw milk caused the current outbreak.

"I don’t agree (the disease outbreak) has been linked to the milk,” Stephen Bemis, the farm’s attorney, told the newspaper. 

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen represents victims of raw milk food poisoning and actively supports legislation to keep raw milk out of commerce as a way to prevent catastrophic illness among consumers. If you or a loved one has been sickened in the current outbreak, contact a Campylobacter attorney at our firm by calling 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.

Our law firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness and we have collected millions of dollars for victims.

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At the risk of sounding like a broken record, yet another state health department is advising consumers about dangerous bacterial contamination found in raw milk.

The latest warning is coming out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania departments of Agriculture and Health are urging consumers who purchased raw milk from Pasture Maid Creamery in New Castle, Lawrence County, to discard the product immediately. Campylobacter bacteria was found in a recent sample.

The testing was done in connection with a human illness investigation and more tests are pending.

Pasture Maid Creamery, owned and operated by Adam Dean, sells directly to consumers who sometimes provide their own bottles. The business is not related to Dean's Dairy in Sharpsville, Mercer County, which produces pasteurized milk for sale in supermarkets, the state press release said.

"The Agriculture Department recommended that Mr. Dean stop selling raw milk for human consumption. The dairy is providing additional raw milk samples to be tested for bacterial pathogens to determine subsequent action.''

Meanwhile, Dean told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that his milk is "extremely safe'' and that the state has not revoked his license to sell it.

Campylobacter in raw milk also is an issue this week in Michigan, Illinois and Indiana. Michigan officials traced an outbreak of Campylobacter infection in their state to raw milk from an Indiana farm sold through a distributor who also shipped it to Chicago and a few other cities in northern Illinois. 

Despite chronic outbreaks of illness capable of killing people, the sale of raw milk continues to be a public health threat and a costly burden to state health departments. When milk isn't pasteurized, there is no reliable safeguard against fecal contamination that harbors pathogens such as Campylobacter, E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella.

The lawyers at national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen continually see the devastating effects of these disease-causing organisms while representing people who have ingested them. Our law firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness and we have years of experience handling raw milk cases.

If you or a loved one has become sick after drinking raw milk, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.

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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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An outbreak of at least five cases of Campylobacter in and around Saratoga County in New York has been associated with raw milk produced at Willow Marsh Farm in Ballston Spa, New York.

The farm is licensed by the state to sell raw milk but it has temporarily halted production after preliminary tests showed Campylobacter contamination, according to a press release from the state.

The New York State Department of Health and the State Department of Agriculture and Markets report that all five individuals who recently were diagnosed with Campylobacter enteritis had consumed raw milk from Willow Marsh Farm.

If final test results prove the connection, the farm won't be allowed to resume raw milk sales until monitoring shows no pathogens.

Campylobacter is a bacterial infection that can cause diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, headache, and muscle pain. The illness usually occurs two to five days after ingestion and generally lasts for seven to ten days. This form of food poisoning can result in long-term health consequences.

State officials say that anyone who purchased milk from Willow Marsh Farm and still has the product should not consume it. Individuals experiencing gastrointestinal illness after consuming milk purchased from Willow Marsh Farm should contact their health care provider.

For answers to legal questions about compensation from food poisoning, contact national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our contact form on the side of this Web page. Our firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness and we have collected millions for victims.

Campylobacter from raw milk is one of the risks associated with the practice of drinking milk that is not pasteurized. Many people think raw milk has healthful qualities, but science has proven it does not provide the protection of pasteurization, which eliminates all pathogenic bacteria, including Campylobacter without sacrificing milk's nutritional value.

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 The state of Wisconsin is investigating to find the source of raw milk that has led to 13 confirmed cases of Campylobacter jejuni, a pathogen that has the potential to cause serious illness and even death.

More cases are expected to be confirmed soon, as there are other people sick in households where people are confirmed victims of the Campylobacter food poisoning. Tests are pending.

The announcement was made by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The onset of illnesses in this Campylobacter outbreak range from Aug. 14-20.

With Campylobacter, infections can be passed from one person to another.

Raw, or unpasteurized milk cannot be legally sold in the state of Wisconsin because of the chronic health risk posed by bacterial contamination -- usually stemming from the cow's feces or other animal feces. People get around the law sometimes by selling shares in a cow used for raw milk production. The theory is that if you own your own cow, you can do what you want with the milk.

State officials are cautioning residents in the southeastern area of Wisconsin, where the outbreak is occurring, to discard any unpasteurized milk they may have in their refrigerators.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen attorneys has represented victims of Campylobacter who have suffered serious illness, including Guillain-Barre' Syndrome, a nerve cell condition that causes muscle weakness and in some cases paralysis. We urge any ill person who drank raw milk or believes they may have contracted Campylobacter from someone else to see a doctor.

Our law firm is involved in practically every major outbreak of foodborne illness and we are one of the few groups of lawyers in the country who practice extensively in the area of food poisoning. Over the years we have collected tens of millions of dollars for victims. A Campylobacter lawyer at our firm is ready to help you at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). To receive a free case consultation from one of our attorneys via the internet, complete one of our online contact forms.

Campylobacter symptoms start with muscle pain, fever and headache. Those symptoms are followed by diarrhea, stomach pain and nausea. The first symptoms usually occur two to five days after infection.

The disease is one of the most common of all foodborne illnesses and healthy adults can often endure it without medical treatment. But young children, the elderly and people who have weakened immune systems are at higher risk for complications that could require hospitalization.

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According to the Anchorage Daily News, a Campylobacter outbreak that has sickened 18 in Alaska has been traced back to Mat-Valley Peas in Palmer, Alaska.  The 18 people became sick starting August 1 after eating raw peas. The pea farm sells the product in 5 and 10-pound bags with clear cooking instructions, which under most circumstances would have prevented the bacterial outbreak.  Investigators, however, note that some retailers and sellers at farmers markets repackaged the peas from Mat-Valley and did not include the cooking instructions.  Campylobacter often causes foodborne illness with symptoms of diarrhea, weakenss, fever, nausea, and vomiting.

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