On May 9, 2016, Organic Pastures Dairy of Fresno County, California, issued a recall for raw milk and cream produced at the facility. The recall occurred after routine testing revealed the presence of Salmonella. Recalled products include Organic Pastures brand raw milk, raw skim milk, and raw cream. Health officials have ordered that all products labeled with a date code of May 18 be removed from retail shelves. The recalled products may also be found in the homes of consumers, who should dispose of them to prevent infection. THere have been no reports of infection associated with this recall.
This is not the first time that Organic Pastures Dairy products have been contaminated with foodborne bacteria. Starting in January, Organic Pastures Dairy was linked to an outbreak of E. coli poisoning in California. The outbreak sickened 10 people, many of whom were children. Several people needed to be hospitalized because of their illness, and some developed Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome.
Salmonella poisoning is one of the most common forms of foodborne illness in the UNited States, causing a CDC estimated 1 million cases of illness each year. Salmonella infections will produce symptoms between 12 and 72 hours after infection. Generally, Salmonella poisoning will produce symptoms including fever, nausea, abdominal cramping, and vomiting. The elderly, children, and those with suppressed immune systems are at an increased risk of contracting a serious infection. If you or a loved one begins to show the symptoms of Salmonella poisoning, contact a medical professional.
