State health officials say it is likely that cows improperly milked at a Weber County dairy are what caused a Cache County resident and 45 others to become sick after consuming raw milk.
Larry Lewis, public information officer for the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF), told The Herald Journal on Monday that the UDAF lab and others that have run tests on the raw milk sold at Ropelato Dairy — the closest licensed raw milk producer to Cache Valley — are coming back negative.
“But we’re taking more (samples) to confirm that there’s a consistent supply of safe milk coming from that dairy, so we’re not ready to reinstate license just yet,” Lewis said. “At this point we believe the cows were not properly milked; that the udders were not cleaned properly before they milked the cow.”
Inspectors suspended the dairy's license to sell raw milk on Aug. 4, after samples taken at the farm tested positive for campylobacter bacteria.
Inspectors have repeatedly visited the dairy, “reviewing safety procedures, working with the owner to determine the source of the problem and helping devise corrective actions,” Lewis said. The dairy has been very cooperative in working with the inspectors, and will be allowed to resume raw milk sales as soon as the milk consistently passes safety tests, he said.
The 45 cases of Campylobacter infection have been reported in people who indicated that they consumed raw milk in the week before illness began. Cases have been reported from Cache, Davis, Morgan, Salt Lake, Utah and Weber counties. Two cases occurred in out-of-state residents from California and Idaho. Onset dates range from May 9 to July 21. The people affected range in age from two to 74 years.
“Illness associated with the consumption of raw milk is not uncommon,” Lewis said. “An outbreak this large is probably one of the larger ones in recent memory.”
Campylobacteriosis is a bacterial infection that causes diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, headache, nausea and vomiting, according to a Utah Department of Health (UDOH) news release. Illness can last for up to a week or more and can be “serious, especially for young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those who have weakened or compromised immune systems,” the news release said.
UDOH Epidemiologist Kenneth Davis added in a news release that anyone exhibiting the above symptoms after consuming raw milk should contact his or her health care provider.
Some people believe that raw milk contains certain health benefits that patusrized milk does not, but studies done by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that human consumption of raw milk is highly dangerous and can lead to illness and even death.
Utah is one of only 30 states that allow legal raw milk sales. Throughout the state, raw milk can be sold legally by a licensed raw milk producer at a retail site owned by the producer. People who own cows can legally consume their own milk, but can’t sell it legally or even give it away without a license.
Richard Clark, the Director of the Division of Regulatory Services within the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, told The Herald Journal last year that “Utah is one of the most raw milk-accessible states in the country.”
But the regulations imposed on the sale of raw milk are very strict, and include regular testing of his product to ensure that it is as safe as unpasteurized milk possibly can be, Bob Ropelato, in Ogden, told The Herald Journal in 2013. The standards Utah imposes on raw milk are equivalent to national standards for pasteurized milk.
Clark Israelsen, USU agriculture extension specialist for Cache County, declined to speculate on the reason for the rash of illnesses in an interview Tuesday, but noted that a person has to know that they’re buying raw milk before they can legally buy it.
“This was a willing seller, willing buyer scenario,” he said.
The USU Extension specialist noted there’s “quite a discussion” regarding the sale of raw milk, where some producers say no one should drink it and others say Utah should provide it.
“So a compromise was made to where an individual can obtain a permit to sell raw milk, but the regulations are as long as your arm,” Israelsen said. “Some say it’s a little surprising there’s been an outbreak because it’s so heavily regulated; others say no one should be surprised because they were consuming a product that wasn’t processed.”
Israelsen said there may be a defensive argument for those producers and consumers that are for raw milk.
“Two, three generations ago, most people drank raw milk and we were healthy,” he said. “In fact, there are some who say that the reason why we have so many allergies and difficulties is because we have become so sterile that we haven’t built up imunes. Consumption of raw milk would help in that regard.”
Editor's note: Diamond R. Dairies, the Ropelato family-owned dairy in Cache County, is not the same dairy that has had its license suspended due to the sale of raw milk that has made several consumers ill. Diamond R. Dairies has never provided raw milk.
Twitter: KevJourno
(7) comments
Nothing is as heavenly as the taste of fresh, raw milk straight from the cow. We put our trust in the dairy farmer that sells the milk, that he will maintain cleanliness standards. When this trust is broken, it is hard to regain. Still, we need our small farmers to continue in their line of work to deliver clean, fresh milk to those who need or want it. We also need our small produce farmers, who use old-fashioned methods to bring us safe, non-gmo products. I noticed that the corporate farmers are getting into the act of supplying 'organic foods. Can we trust them after all they have done? I think we need to support the small farmer, vigorously, through our spending habits, even if it does cost a bit more. Growing organic is actually cheaper for the farmer, as gmo seed costs have outpaced non-gmo's; supplying crops with natural predators in cheaper than buying the highly toxic artificial chemicals from chemical companies. So, it is my contention that we are entering a new era. Out with old. That is the old corporate way of producing food for consumers, and a healthy return to ancient methods. The few times a problem occurs with the small farmer is far over-shadowed by the harmful health effects of gmo products.
Isn't this self-correcting? Why would these consumers of this raw milk ever buy raw milk again from this milk supplier?
I see no role for government meddling in this regard. However, I'm sure some weasel in a suit carrying a suit case, possibly accompanied by a swat team, will have already arrived at the dairy saying, "We're from the government and we're here to help."
You or yours dies of food poisoning and no one does anything about it to prevent future losses...sure it is self correcting. Who would you want to "meddle" to insure the safety of our food supply? No one, I assume.
Who drinks raw milk any more?
I'll buy a half-gallon every now and then when I'm in Midway, mainly to relive the days of fresh milk from the dairy. I understand the risks (and the seller has the responsibility to tell you of the risks) and haven't ever had a problem. I guess I'll be the first to say it here, it tastes fantastic, there is a definite change in taste once it is processed. That said, I do appreciate the work of Louis Pasteur!
I remember as a kid my parents buying raw mild straight from the local dairy. My dad usually was the first to scoop the cream from the top and chug-a-lug it down.
Way too thick and creamy for me.
Like you, I do remember the taste of fresh milk, too
I don't know what it is today---maybe just more media attention---but with all we are now aware, the consequences of drinking raw milk can be a crap shoot.
Sometimes you just lose big-time.
"...raw milk is highly dangerous and can lead to illness and even death."
Do you know how dumb that sounds?
If anybody is doing something wrong, it sure isn't the cow or the milker. They haven't changed in a thousand years.
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