The Connecticut Department of Agriculture has issued a recall of bottled raw milk produced by Bridgewater farm Nature View Dairy because it has been linked to people with Campylobacter infections.
In addition to the two patients, state investigators found Campylobacter bacteria in samples of the farm’s bottled raw milk.
“Consumers should be cautious when ingesting raw milk products, especially those in high-risk categories,” said state Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt in a public alert.
Nature View Dairy, which is complying with the recall according to the Department of Agriculture, specializes in unpasteurized, raw milk, according to the farm’s website. Despite much scientific data to the contrary, the dairy continues to promote its raw milk as safe. It is against federal law to sell raw, unpasteurized milk across state lines.
In addition to their own farm stand, Nature View Dairy sells milk and milk-derived products at markets in and around the Danbury area, including Caraluzzi’s Markets in Newtown, Bethel, Georgetown and Danbury, Labonne’s Market in Watertown and Nature’s Temptations in Ridgefield, among other places.
A public alert from the state agriculture department defined pasteurization as “a process that removes disease-causing germs by heating milk to a high enough temperature for a specific length of time.”
“Raw or unpasteurized milk can be a source of food-borne illness. While good practices on farms can reduce contamination, they cannot guarantee safety from pathogens,” according to the department. “Pasteurized milk offers the same nutritional benefits without the risks of raw milk consumption.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, campylobacter causes “the most bacterial diarrheal illnesses in the United States” impacting 1.5 million people in the United States annually. It is commonly found in uncooked or undercooked meat and dairy products.
Pathogens such as E. coli, Listeria and hepatitis A are often found in raw milk, and avian flu has also been detected, making unpasteurized milk even more dangerous than before.
Symptoms of a campylobacter infection usually start two to five days after ingestion, lasting about one week. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, vomiting and nausea.
“Those who exhibit symptoms of campylobacter infection that last more than two days should contact their health care provider,” Department of Public Health Commissioner Commissioner Manisha Juthani said in a public alert. “While anyone can get sick from campylobacter, children aged 5 and younger, pregnant people, adults 65 and older, and those with a weakened immune system are at an increased risk for serious illness.”
Milk is a billion-dollar business in Connecticut, according to the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Regulatory Services. Farms that sell raw milk are inspected for cleanliness, though facilities that sell less than $1 million in food of any kind annually are exempt.
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