CALIFORNIA – Dozens of salmonella cases have been linked to products from an organic farm, primarily its raw milk in California.
As of February, at least 165 people fell ill with salmonella infections related to products from Raw Farm, located in Fresno, California, according to records. This outbreak is the largest salmonella incident related to raw milk in the U.S. in the past decade, according to health officials.
The disclosure of the outbreak’s size comes as health officials warn the public to avoid unpasteurized milk due to an avian flu virus circulating in U.S. dairy cows.
The avian flu, known as Type A H5N1, has been detected in more than 140 dairy herds in the U.S., and federal health officials state that the virus has been found in elevated levels in raw milk.
State and local health officials had not updated the public on the full extent of the salmonella outbreak since October when officials in San Diego reported about a dozen cases.
At that time, Raw Farm issued a voluntary recall of milk and heavy cream sold between October 11 and November 6. However, cases continued to rise.
Investigators compared samples from sick individuals with samples from the farm and a retail store. More than 60% of confirmed infection cases that were interviewed reported consuming Raw Farm products.
People in four states were infected, although the vast majority — 162 — were from California. Four people with salmonella were also infected with campylobacter and/or dangerous E. coli bacteria.
According to the officials, nearly 40% of the illnesses were reported in children under 5 years old. Twenty people were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.
On Wednesday, California health officials said that they had conducted a “robust” investigation in collaboration with local teams and state agricultural officials, and notified the public about the outbreak through the recall notice in October and social media posts in October, November, and December. The outbreak ended on May 4, officials said. It is unclear if any additional cases were reported after February.
Mark McAfee, owner of Raw Farm, acknowledged that his products were part of the outbreak. He stated that a single cow was infected with salmonella last fall and was subsequently removed from the herd. He also mentioned implementing additional testing protocols in response to the outbreak.
Jessie McGee, 35, from San Pedro, California, plans to sue Raw Farm because her 6-year-old daughter was hospitalized in October with a confirmed infection linked to the outbreak.
McGee said she had read about the supposed health benefits of raw milk online and began drinking Raw Farm products and giving them to her daughter and 2-year-old twins. All three children and McGee fell ill, but her eldest daughter’s symptoms of high fever and stomach cramps were the most severe.
After the ordeal, McGee said she would no longer drink unpasteurized milk. “None of the possible benefits you might get from milk are worth it,” she said.
This salmonella outbreak related to defective products from Raw Farm underscores the importance of food safety measures. Authorities continue to warn about the risks of consuming unpasteurized dairy products, and this incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences.
If you or someone you love has been affected by defective products or face health problems due to this salmonella outbreak, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We can get you the best medical treatment you need, and the justice you deserve.
