July 2011

In January of this year we filed suit on behalf of the family of Hermillo Castellano who was one four people who died as a result of consuming the contaminated Sangar celery. Castellano was in a San Antonio hospital with a previous condition in May 2010 when he consumed chopped celery. Three days after his

milktwo.jpgLast week I posted “Two Raw Milks – one for the Pasteurizer and one in the Raw.” The idea behind the post was to recognize that several of the outbreaks linked to raw milk in the past few years were from milk that had been intended to be pasteurized – presumably from a CAFO, and therefore suspect. However, for several of the outbreaks that I have been involved in over the last years, the milk consumed by my clients came from the other milk – that is raw milk intended to be consumed that way. It did not work out too well for that milk, or my clients, either.

Simsbury Town Farm Dairy – 2008

On July 16, 2008, the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CDPH) was investigating two cases of HUS as part of its routine surveillance. Interviews conducted in these investigations revealed that both children had consumed raw milk in the week before the onset of their illnesses. Both children had consumed raw milk produced by the Simsbury Town Farm Dairy. CDPH notified the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CDA), and opened an investigation. In the following two weeks five additional confirmed and seven additional probable cases of E. coli O157:NM infection, each associated with consumption of raw milk from the Simsbury Town Farm Dairy.

As part of the investigation of the outbreak, CDA conducted an environmental inspection of the Simsbury Town Farm Dairy. CDA found a number of troubling practices at the dairy. These included: manual bottling of raw milk directly from the bulk tank; failure to cap valves; an improper seal around the shaft of the transport tank; and a biofilm protein residue found inside the transport tank. In addition, investigators found a number of “poor hygienic practices” at the dairy. Among these was the storage of a stainless steel milk tank in an exposed unsanitary bucket. In addition, investigators found a lack of hand soap, a lack of hot water and the hand-washing sink, and soiled floors. Flies were observed in the bulk milk storage tank room. The dairy workers were unable to identify the dairy’s sanitization process for glass milk bottles that were re-used. It was also noted that the glass bottles from the dairy did not feature the statutorily required consumer advisory language.

A laboratory study was also conducted. Of the six patients that cultured positive for E. coli O157:NM, 5 had a “genetic fingerprint” that was indistinguishable. The sixth varied very slightly on one test. Samples of feces from the cows at the dairy were also tested. One of the tests was positive for E. coli O157:NM of a strain matching that of the group of five patients. The CDPH concluded that “several findings from this investigation indicated that consumption of raw milk from Farm X [Simsbury] was the cause of the outbreak.” Three of the consumers developed HUS.

Alexandre Eco Farms – 2008Continue Reading Two Raw Milks – Is the other better?

Agromod Produce, Inc. of McAllen, Texas is recalling all Papayas, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Fresh, Whole Papayas were distributed nationwide and to Canada through retail stores and wholesalers.

Screen Shot 2011-07-23 at 8.06.56 PM.pngAgromod is recalling all Blondie, Yaya, Mañanita, and Tastylicious Brand papayas sold prior to July 23, 2011. Each Blondie Brand papaya

Screen Shot 2011-07-22 at 9.40.44 AM.pngOver the last several weeks you have seen a few stories by our pair of Pulitzer Prize winning writers, Ross Anderson and Andrew Schneider, and they are promising more (stories and Pulitzers). Dan, Helena, Mary, Gretchen and Cookson continue to do important stories, and we have had several great Op-eds by author, Michele Simon. My