Raw Milk In Wisconsin Is Illegal And Making People Sick, Says State

Posted by Campylobacter Lawyer on August 29, 2009

This just in from the State of Wisconsin:

Thirteen confirmed cases of illness in southeastern Wisconsin have been linked to consumption of unpasteurized milk, public health officials said today, and they cautioned residents to discard any unpasteurized milk they have in their homes.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection said individuals have tested positive for campylobacter jejuni, a bacterial infection that causes gastro-intestinal symptoms and fever and that occasionally leads to severe complications. There are other people in the same households who are ill, but those test results are not yet available, officials said.

The onset of illness was Aug. 14-20. All victims had consumed raw milk or been in households where someone else consumed raw milk and became ill. Campylobacter can be passed between people as well as being contracted directly from contaminated food.

Campylobacter jejuni bacteria cause nausea, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fever and vomiting. Rarely, it can lead to temporary arthritis or paralysis, generally after the initial symptoms have disappeared.

Anyone who has these symptoms and has recently consumed unpasteurized milk or dairy products should contact their doctor. To prevent spreading Campylobacter bacteria, follow proper hand-washing procedures and wash down bathroom and kitchen surfaces with an antibacterial agent.

Selling or distributing raw milk and raw milk products is illegal in Wisconsin.

Breakthrough Moves Closer to Campylobacter Vaccine

Posted by Campylobacter Lawyer on August 25, 2009

We don’t get to report on a lot of good news here. Today, we do, though. The Washington Post is reporting that Navy scientist Patricia Guerry has made “discoveries that could lead to the first vaccine” for campylobacter jejuni. According to the report, such a vaccine could “potentially save tens of thousands of young lives in developing countries where the pathogen has proved deadly.”

Campylobacter jejuni is also a common illness in the U.S. In rare cases, it can lead to the development of Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS). GBS is a very serious illness that causes nerve paralysis.

According to the Post:

The vaccine candidate against the pathogen Campylobacter jejuni, developed by Guerry, her colleagues at the U.S. Naval Medical Research Center in Silver Spring and Canadian scientist Mario Monteiro, successfully protected against infection in monkeys during testing last year and is slated for human clinical trials.

If the vaccine becomes a reality, it would be significant step forward in reducing foodborne illness in the U.S. and internationally.

Useful Tips on Avoiding Campylobacter Infection

Posted by Campylobacter Lawyer on August 21, 2009

In an informative article from U.S. News, Janurary W. Payne provides useful information on avoiding campylobacter infection.   Campylobacter is a bacterial infection, often spread through contaminated food.  

While it does not receive the notoriety of foodborne pathogens like E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella, it is very common and can be quite dangerous.  In rare cases, Campylobacter infection can lead to Guillain-Barré (ghee-yan bah-ray) syndrome (GBS).   GBS is a disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system.     Although this syndrome is rare (affecting about one to two persons in 100,000) it is the most common cause of acute neuromuscular paralysis in the world.

Payne provides four primary tips on avoiding Campylobacter infection:

  • Limiting poultry exposure - especially exposure to raw poultry.   The public lacks sufficient appreciation of the risks of exposure to raw foods, especially poultry, in the preparation process.  According to FDA testing, Campylobacter has been found in nearly 50% of raw chicken breasts.  Good kitchen hygiene, including handwashing, is important.
  • Proper hygiene with pets.   Payne reports that new animal owners (including dog owners)  are more likely to get Campylobacter infections.   Long time owners may build some resistance to infection.   Once again, washing hands is a good idea.
  • Travel Abroad-  the water supply in some countries can pose a threat.
  • Limit Antacids- Payne reports that antacids neutralize the stomach acids that help protect our bodies from bacteria.

Milk "For Pet Use Only" Equals Raw Milk In Florida; Latest Scam To Sell Dangerous Product

Posted by Campylobacter Attorney on August 04, 2009

 The latest scam by the raw milkers is found in Florida, according to the Sarasota Herald Tribune.   It reports:

The label on the jug reads "for pet use only," but in the privacy of their kitchens, thousands of people statewide mix smoothies with, churn ice cream with, and drink cold glasses of raw milk.

It is illegal in Florida and many other states to sell raw milk as a human beverage because it can harbor pathogens such as Listeria and E. coli. Milk meant for people must undergo a heating process called pasteurization, which kills all bacteria.

But no laws forbid drinking it.

The headline to the story says it all: "Raw-milk lovers skirt the law: Unpasteurized product must be labeled 'pet use only,' but people are drinking it."  Catch it all in the Sarasota H-T.