Campylobacter Watch

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April 6, 2006
Scripps Howard News Service
Lance Gay
America’s disease detectives credit pasteurization of milk as one of the great health advances of the 20th century. But drinkers of raw milk argue the heating process that destroys dangerous pathogens also kills beneficial nutrients and vitamins.
Advocates are accelerating their lobbying in some of the 23 states that ban sales of un-pasteurized milk, arguing that it’s no more dangerous than raw meat or un-pasteurized fruit juice. Encouraging dairy farmers to sell un-pasteurized milk at the farm gate will save small farms that are losing their milk markets, they say.
“Technology is destroying nature’s perfect food,” said Sally Fallon, head of the Weston A. Price Foundation in Washington, who argues Americans would be healthier returning to drinking raw milk. The foundation is spearheading a drive to make raw milk more available.Continue Reading Battle brewing over raw milk

April 5, 2006
Food Safety Web Specialists
Food Safety and Inspection Service
WASHINGTON — The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today advised consumers that cooking raw poultry to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F will eliminate pathogens and viruses.
The single minimum internal temperature requirement of 165 degrees F was recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF).
“The Committee was asked to determine a single minimum temperature for poultry at which consumers can be confident that pathogens and viruses will be destroyed,” said Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Richard Raymond. “The recommendation is based on the best scientific data available and will serve as a foundation for our programs designed to reduce foodborne illness and protect public health.”Continue Reading Single minimum internal temperature established for cooked poultry

April 5, 2006
Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A bill that would have allowed raw, unpasteurized milk sales in Tennessee was bottled up in a House committee on Tuesday.
Opponents were concerned that without pasteurization, raw milk has a potential to be laced with listeria, E. coli or salmonella, but bill sponsor Rep. Glen Casada said consumers run the risk of contracting illnesses from any food.
“That’s just the nature of food,” the College Grove Republican said. “I contend it’s a consumers right to buy food they think is healthy for them and their family.”
Listeria, E. coli and Salmonella can result in gastrointestinal illness and, in the worst cases, kidney failure or death.Continue Reading Proposal to allow raw milk sales defeated

April 2, 2006
Press Release Newswire
Chicken is one of the most versatile and economical main dishes for people looking for nutritious and easy-to-fix meals. But if not stored, cooked and cleaned correctly, chicken can cause food poisoning and other food-borne illnesses.
Little Rock — “Chicken? Again?” That’s probably one of the most common laments heard over and over at dinnertime in homes throughout Arkansas.
Chicken is one of the most versatile and economical main dishes for people looking for nutritious and easy-to-fix meals. But if not stored, cooked and cleaned correctly, chicken can cause food poisoning and other food-borne illnesses.Continue Reading Don’t play chicken with health: practice food safety when preparing poultry

April 2, 2006
Knoxnews News Sentinel (TN)
The Associated Press
Erik Schelzig
FRANKLIN, Tenn. – A proposal to allow raw milk sales in Tennessee could put dairy consumers at risk, opponents of a measure moving through the Legislature said Friday.
Supporters say pasteurization’s scalding heat destroys the taste and nutrients. But Bill Mason, executive director of consumer watchdog group Tennessee Citizen Action, calls those claims “anecdotal.”
“There’s just no scientific connection between drinking raw milk and any benefits,” said Mason.
Yet interest in raw, unpasteurized milk has been on the rise nationwide, part of a growing natural foods movement. And similar measures have been approved in more than 20 other states, said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Glen Casada.Continue Reading Both sides of raw milk plan debated: Critics say proposal could hurt farmers, lead to a health risk

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