At a Dairy in Sequim Washington Another Raw Milk E coli Outbreak
Selling raw, unpasteurized milk is illegal in many states, but not in Washington.
If a producer or processor is properly licensed with the state Agriculture Department and the raw milk carries a consumer warning label about the associated health risks, sales are legal.
But as the Dungeness Valley Creamery E. coli outbreak demonstrates, legal doesn't mean safe.
Here is an excerpt from a press release issued Tuesday by the Washington State Department of Agriculture in Olympia, Washington:
"Three recent E. coli infections in Washington have been linked to drinking raw, unpasteurized milk. As a result, the Washington state departments of Health and Agriculture are reminding consumers of the potential health hazards of these products.
The patients all report drinking raw milk produced by the Dungeness Valley Creamery in Sequim. No E. coli has been found in samples from the dairy's current batch of milk, but during an investigation at the dairy, WSDA found the same bacteria that caused one of the illnesses.''
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially lethal pathogen, especially dangerous to young children, older adults and others with weakened immune systems. Each year in the United States, the bacteria causes about 90 deaths, 3,000 hospitalizations and 100,000 infections.
In more than 5 percent of cases, patients develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening condition that is the leading cause of kidney failure in children and carries the risk of many serious health problems ranging from strokes, diabetes, heart damage and central nervous system disorders.
Pasteurization of milk kills E. coli and other harmful pathogens. If you or a loved one has become sick after drinking raw milk, contact a physician immediately. For answers to legal questions, call an E. coli lawyer at Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, 1-888-377-8900 (toll free). Our firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of food poisoning litigation and we have recovered millions for E. coli victims. To contact us online, complete the form on the side of this web page.
Despite scientific proof to the contrary, many people believe raw milk is more nutritional than pasteurized milk. But here are facts from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that set the record straight:
- Raw milk DOES NOT kill dangerous pathogens by itself.
- Pasteurizing milk DOES NOT cause lactose intolerance and allergic reactions.
- Both raw milk and pasteurized milk can cause reactions in people sensitive to milk proteins.
- Pasteurization DOES NOT reduce milk’s nutritional value.
- Pasteurization DOES NOT mean that it is safe to leave milk out of the refrigerator for extended time.
- Pasteurization KILLS harmful bacteria and SAVES lives
