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35 Sick in WI Raw Milk Campylobacter Outbreak

By PritzkerLaw

 A Wisconsin Campylobacter raw milk outbreak that hospitalized one person and sickened 34 others was caused by contaminated raw milk sold under a cow share program by Zinniker Family Farm of Elkhorn, Wisconsin.

That's what the Food Safety Division of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection reported today in a news release.

Steve Ingham, head of the division, said the evidence is "compelling'' linking the raw milk Campylobacter illnesses to the farm. All 35 individuals had consumed raw milk and 30 identified Zinniker Family Farm as the source.

In addition, testing showed that Campylobacter jejuniisolates from 25 of the patients had the same DNA fingerprint. The very same outbreak strain of Campylobacter was found in manure samples obtained from milking cows on the farm, the press release said.

Said Ingham: "So far we've been fortunate that the infections have not been life-threatening.''

The agency said 21 of those sickened in the outbreak are under the age of 18.

Ingham pointed out that Wisconsin law for more than a half century has required pasteurization of milk that is for sale. Some farmers believe otherwise, but they are mistaken, Ingham said. "Cow-share'' programs don't qualify as exempt, he said.

Helping with the investigation of the outbreak was the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Because Zinniker sells its raw milk to a defined customer list, food safety officials don't believe there is much risk to the general public. However, Ingham said, the outbreak should discourage consumers from joining "cow share'' programs or other similar arrangements to buy unpasteurized milk. He described it as "inherently risky food.''

If you or someone you know has been sickened in this outbreak and are looking for advice on protecting your legal rights, food safety lawyers at Pritzker Olsen attorneys can help. Our firm is one of the few in the nation practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness and we have collected tens of millions for victims of food poisoning, including Campylobacter.

A Campylobacter attorney can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). Or, to receive a free case consultation via the Internet, complete one of our online forms.

Campylobacter jejuni are bacteria that cause diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fever, nausea and vomiting. Rarely, an infection may lead to paralysis, which could require hospitalization and artificial respiration. 

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on September 16, 2009 (boomark / email).