Following an E. coli outbreak in the state of Washington, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is joining with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to warn the public against drinking raw milk.
Topeka, KS – infoZine – Raw milk is not treated or pasteurized to remove disease-causing bacteria and may cause life-threatening illness. There is also a potential risk of getting rabies from drinking raw milk.
Eight cases of illness have been reported in Washington state to date associated with raw milk containing E. coli O157:H7 bacteria. Several of these cases were in children. Two of the children remain hospitalized. Health authorities have identified locally (Washington) sold raw milk as a source of the outbreak, and have ordered an unlicensed dairy to shut down.Continue Reading FDA and KDHE Warn Consumers About Raw Milk

December 21, 2005
Andy Patrick
AgInfo.netZ
One of the more significant selling points of the segment of agriculture that is dubbed organic, self-sustaining, even alternative, to the consumer is that it claims to offer a more healthy product than goods produced through conventional growing and processing means. But a recent incident in Southwest Washington and one county in Oregon may serve as a warning to consumers that just because a product labels itself as more healthy than its conventional counterpart doesn’t necessarily make it gospel truth.
If one were to go to www.localharvest.org, a site that promotes small, sustainable, and organic based agriculture operations across America, and look up “Dee Creek Farm”, the following description of the Woodland Washington based operation provided as of January of this year reads like this … “Our goal is to build an ecologically responsible and self-sustaining farm, using natural methods and humane practices. We are pleased to offer our quality products and services to those who desire an “alternative for a more healthy lifestyle.”Continue Reading When alternative is not healthy

Outbreak – Despite bacterial illnesses blamed on the lack of pasteurization, raw milk has an unwavering following
Sunday, December 18, 2005
DON COLBURN
The Oregonian
The arguments get so passionate, it’s hard to remember that both sides are talking about the same iconic glass of milk.
Pasteurization of milk — a quick blast of heat to kill potentially deadly bacteria — has been one of the no-brainers of public health for nearly a century. Health officials say it makes milk safe and delays spoilage without markedly reducing the drink’s nutritional value.
A small but vocal minority of raw milk fans aren’t buying.
“I consider raw milk medicine for me and my family,” says Juanita Stiles, 66, of Vancouver. “I believe in fresh, raw anything over changed, dead, chemically contaminated and synthetic foods.” She also opposes vaccinations against childhood diseases and avoids medical doctors.Continue Reading Unheated milk hotly debated