Another Raw Milk E. coli Recall, Another Casualty, This Time No One Sick

By Bill Marler on January 18, 2012

The Recall: Frisia Dairy and Creamery says it’s recalling its fluid raw milk products because of the danger of contamination with potentially harmful E. coli bacteria. There have been no reported illnesses related to the recalled products, the dairy said.

The dairy initiated the voluntary recall after a test by the Washington State Department of Agriculture in a routine sampling found E. coli bacteria in a skim milk sample.

The Casualty: Anita De Boer, co-owner of the dairy with her husband Peter, told Food Safety News that the dairy, which has been in operation for 2 years, had started selling raw milk only 3 1/2 months ago.

Now with the recall coming so soon, De Boer said they have decided not to go on with raw milk.

“It’s heartbreaking to hear the stories of the mothers,” she said, referring to cases of E. coli infection in young children. “It’s not worth it.”

She said that from now on, the dairy will ship its milk to a processor to be pasteurized.

“We realize we took a risk,” she said, referring to the health warnings outlined on labels that Washington state requires to be put on raw milk containers. “We learned our lesson. It (raw milk) is a really good product, but there’s a risk with it.”

Retailers, who should think twice: The milk products are sold in pint, half-gallon, and gallon containers. Recalled fluid raw milk products were sold from the on-farm location at 4800 Skookumchuck Rd SE, Tenino and from the following locations: