March 2006

March 30, 2006
Yakima Herald-Republic
Jessica Wambach
Since the first of the year, the Yakima Health District has seen a spike in the number of cases of a bacterial infection that causes stomach sickness.
Many of the 41 cases of campylobacteriosis so far this year might be tied to the consumption of unpasteurized milk and related cheese products, said Marianne Patnode, Communicable Disease Services coordinator at the health district.
By this time last year, only 21 people had reported having the bacterial illness characterized by diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain and fever. Symptoms usually appear within two to five days of exposure to the organism and usually last about one week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In very rare cases it can be life-threatening, but it is not transmittable from person to person.Continue Reading Bacterial illness linked to raw milk infecting more people

March 14, 2006
The Daily News
Barbara LaBoe
It’s illegal to sell unpasteurized milk without a license in Washington, but Longview residents need only cross the Lewis and Clark Bridge to get raw milk in Oregon, where no license is required for small farms.
That could soon change, though, as Oregon officials review their laws in light of a December E. coli outbreak at a raw milk farm in Woodland.Continue Reading Woodland raw milk scare has Oregon reviewing its laws

March 15, 2006
Daily Record.com
Matt Tullis
MILLERSBURG – A Holmes County dairy farmer may get his milk producer’s license back after having it revoked for a $2 sale of raw milk in an unlabeled container.
Arlie Stutzman said representatives from the Ohio Department of Agriculture showed up at his farm Tuesday morning with paperwork he must fill out to have his license reinstated. His license, which allowed him to sell milk to cheese manufacturers, was revoked by the ODA on Feb. 8 because he sold milk in an unlabeled container to an undercover investigator.
Stutzman said he was surprised when the ODA showed up, but noted it might have been a little too late. He rented nine of his 36 cows to another dairy farmer last week to produce some income.Continue Reading Licensure hope for farmer Stutzman can seek reinstatement; ODA notes bacteria violations

March 12, 2006
Flint Journal
James L. Smith
In a world with grocery stores in nearly every community, it’s hard to imagine that some people drive nearly three hours a week to obtain dairy products.
But farmer Chuck Oliver’s customers do just that.
Oliver, who battled the Michigan Department of Agriculture over the right to sell raw milk on his farm, has tripled his customer base in the last six months to about 300, with just word-of-mouth advertising.
And at least for now, he has made peace with state agriculture regulators.
Oliver’s milk is straight from the cow, without pasteurization. Pasteurized milk, the type purchased in stores, is heated to kill bacteria, then bottled and cooled.Continue Reading Consumers’ enthusiasm growing for farmer’s raw milk

3/13/2006 9:00:00 PM
Mel Robertson
Lifestyle Editor/Reporter
State and county officials continue to investigate a bacterial outbreak at New Richmond.
“The only thing we know is we had an outbreak,” Montgomery County Sanitarian Ron Posthauer said. “Nothing’s been confirmed yet. There may be evidence to point in certain directions but it’s not responsible to speculate.”
In February, the town of New Richmond suffered from an outbreak of campylobacteriosis. More than two cases is considered an outbreak, Posthauer said.
Campylobacteriosis is an infectious bacterial disease, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention Web site, www.cdc.gov. Symptoms of the infection include diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain and fever within two to five days of being infected, the CDC Web site states. Symptoms typically last about a week.Continue Reading Bacteria outbreak still under investigation

Associated Press
Proponents of drinking raw milk say it’s full of vitamins and soothes asthma and other ailments, but only farmers who own their own cows can drink the unpasteurized white beverage in Ohio.
So raw milk fans have turned to “herd share” agreements that allow them to buy portions of a farmer’s herd and get dairy products.
Now the Ohio Department of Agriculture is investigating these arrangements, which an agriculture official says appear to take advantage of a legal loophole.Continue Reading Agriculture department investigating raw milk agreements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ohio Department of Health
Selling and Shipping Raw Dairy Products into Ohio is Illegal
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (March 1, 2006) — Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Fred L. Dailey is cautioning consumers to avoid falling prey to direct or deceptive online sales of unpasteurized raw milk products, which are not allowed to be sold or offered for sale in Ohio.
“I strongly urge consumers to drink only milk that has been properly pasteurized at a licensed and inspected facility,” said Dailey. “You could be putting yourself or your family at risk by consuming raw milk.”Continue Reading Consumer Alert: Raw Milk Not Licensed or Inspected in Ohio