"We are also investigating an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has implicated one of the plaintiffs in the recent lawsuit, Organic Pastures. All of these families whose kids were sickened thought they were doing something healthful, but the product contained a fecal pathogen that nearly took the kids' lives."

Questions for Bill Marler, Esq.:

1. Please exactly name the "fecal pathogen" you are personally claiming was contained in an Organic Pastures Dairy Company product that "nearly took the kids' lives."
2. When exactly did this happen?
3. What specific Organic Pastures "product" are you accusing of having nearly taken the kids' lives?

I look forward to your response.

According to press reports where Organic Pasture's owner was quoted, the answers to your questions are 1) E. coli O157:H7, 2) September 2006, and 3) Cow colostrum and raw milk. Here is the article:

Raw milk products recalled; 4 sick

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/health/20060923-9999-7m23milk.html

There was also this recent article:

Raw Milk Fans Oppose New Calif. Rules

California officials say some children fell ill last year after consuming Organic Pastures products. Five children reportedly were sickened, and officials discovered a possible sixth case.

However, testing at Organic Pastures did not detect the strain of E. coli that sickened some of the children, McAfee said.

He said there was no connection between the sick kids and his products and that state officials admitted that and signed a settlement agreement this summer.

Dr. Kevin Reilly, deputy director of the California Department of Public Health, said health officials still believe there is a compelling argument for an epidemiological link because all the children had consumed raw milk products.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iujqdGNpz3cckXHfteumgqCpHI2QD8TQBV0O1

I hope that helps. Please also see my recent post on the problems with pasteurized milk. I see that you are a frequent comment poster on blogs - I'm honored that you would read mine.

http://efoodalert.blogspot.com/2007/12/ten-reasons-to-avoid-raw-milk-part-one.html

http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2007/12/12/the-best-milk-i-have-ever-tasted/

This type of statement is no different than racial profiling.

This is like the police arresting the 2 black guys seen in the all white neighborhood for stealing a car but not finding any evidence that they were ever in the car. It must be them because they are black and were in an all white neighborhood.

I see the same arguments that you are raising being raised by the mega-producers (Cargill, ConAgra, etc)of food when they poison and kill children too.

As I said in my post, we are investigating two cases tied to the Fall outbreak that appear to be linked to Organic Pastures. Once we complete our investigation, there will either be enough evidence or not - keep posted.

Why would anyone not want to comply, or even not want to give the appearance of complying, with a regulation that only serves to ensure a safe food product?

We need to start being PROACTIVE to reduce risk instead of ignoring common sense and waiting until there is irrefutable proof of a HAZARD along with dozens documented deaths and degradations to living standards. This is the core reason the US has lost it lead in standards development to the EC. We are SO damn focused on short term profits and quarterly objectives together with PROOF before we will consider REASONABLE precautions, that as a NATION we have lost our grip on leadership.

Those of you that want to make a buck duping consumers into thinking raw milk is every bit as safe as pasteurized milks products will not survive the GREEN revolution, as the rule makers are in Brussels, NOT California, Maryland or Washington DC, and they are using science and statistics, not PACS and pork barrel lobby groups.

Bill, I too do not understand why these dairy owners would not want to comply with the new Standards or why consumers would want anything less.