In February of this year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a study which found that raw milk is 150 times more likely than pasteurized milk to sicken those who drink it. The study took into account all dairy-related outbreaks between 1993 and 2006.

Since that time, a number of outbreaks linked to dairy products have occurred, expanding the data set on dairy outbreaks beyond what the CDC was able to take into account. 

The following line list was compiled by Real Raw Milk Facts through searches for government and dairy industry press releases, reports and newsletters announcing dairy-related outbreaks and recalls.

The data precede official statistics from the CDC, which have an approximately 2-year time lag before being available to the public.

Summary

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Outbreaks 

– 24 raw dairy outbreaks with 309 illnesses, no deaths (22 fluid raw milk, 2 aged raw milk cheese) 

– 2 pasteurized dairy outbreak with 39 illnesses, no deaths

– 1 pasteurized Mexican-style cheese sporadic illness, no deaths

– 2 queso fresco Mexican-style cheese outbreak with 67 illnesses, no deaths

– 3 sporadic illnesses and hospitalizations from illegal Mexican-style cheese, no deaths 

Recalls (no illnesses reported) 

– 14 raw dairy (7 fluid raw milk, 7 aged raw milk cheese) 

– 7 queso fresco Mexican-style cheese

– 8 pasteurized (non-queso fresco) cheese

– 4 dairy product recalls due to inadequate pasteurization

Outbreaks

2010 January, New York, Campylobacter, 5 ill.  Outbreak from raw cow milk from Willow Marsh, a small, local, pasture-based raw milk dairy.  Farm store sales (legal).

 

2010 February, Washington, Shiga-toxin producing E. coli, 6 ill. Outbreak from raw cow milk from Jackie’s Jerseys, a small, local grass-fed raw milk dairy. Farm and retail sales (legal).

 

2010 February, Washington, Listeria monocytogenes, 5 ill.  Outbreak from pasteurized Queso fresco cheese, Queseria Bendita – unspecified milk source.  Retail  sales. (legal)

2010 February-March, Washington,  Listeria monocytogenes, no illnesses. Recall of 60-day aged raw milk cheeses from Estrella Family Creamery, a small, grass-fed cow and goat raw milk dairy. Farm and retail sales (legal).

 

2010 March,  Michigan, Illinois, Indiana,  Campylobacter and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli also found in raw milk cheeses during the investigation, 12 ill. Outbreak from raw cow milk from Forest Grove Dairy, a small (about 75 Jerseys), grass-fed raw milk dairy. Cow-share  sales (legal, unregulated) and multi-state Buyer’s Club (illegal interstate shipment).

2010 March , Pennsylvania, Campylobacter, 1 adult hospitalized with  GBS paralysis,

10 ill.  Outbreak from raw cow milk from Pasture Maid , a small, local raw milk dairy. Farm and retail  sales (legal).

2010 April, Utah, Salmonella Newport,  1 hospitalization, 10 ill.  Outbreak from raw cow milk form Redmond Heritage Farms,  a small, pasture fed (no grain) raw dairy. Farm and retail  sales(legal).

2010 April,  Utah,  Campylobacter, 15 ill.  Outbreak from raw cow milk from Ropelato Dairy, a medium-sized ( about 160 cows) raw milk dairy. Retail sales (legal).

2010 April, Washington ,  Listeria monocytogenes, no illnesses confirmed. Recall of  Pasteurized Queso fresco cheese from Del Bueno – unspecified milk source. Retail sales (legal).

2010 May, Washington,  E. coli O157:H7, 2 ill. Outbreak from raw cow milk from Jackie’s Jerseys, a small, local grassfed raw milk dairy. Farm and retail sales (legal).

2010 May,  Minnesota,  E. coli O157:H7, 1 child hospitalized with HUS. Outbreak strain found in farm samples. Pathogenic E. coli isolated from raw milk cheese. Outbreak from raw cow milk from Hartmann Dairy Farm , which advertises no pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics or genetically modified grains fed to raw milk dairy cows. Farm sales  (legal, unregulated) and Buyer’s Club (illegal off-farm sales).

2010 May, Nevada,  Campylobacter, 1 child hospitalized from Mexican-style raw milk cheese, unknown source, door-to-door sale (illegal).

2010 June Pennsylvania,  Listeria monocytogenes, no confirmed illnesses. Recall of raw cow milk from Alvin J. Stoltzfus Raw Dairy Farm,  asmall, local raw milk dairy. Farm and retail sales (legal).  

2010 June, Delaware, Brucella and Listeria monocytogenes, 2 adults hospitalized, from raw dairy products. Unknown source.  Unknown sales (illegal).

2010 June-July, Colorado, Campylobacter and E. coli O157:H7, 2 children hospitalized with HUS.  Outbreak strain found on the dairy, 30 ill. Outbreak from raw goat milk from Billy Goat Dairy, a small (~54 goats) raw milk dairy. Farm, goat-share sales (legal) .

2010 July, New York, Listeria monocytogenes and Campylobacter. No confirmed illnesses.  Recall of raw cow milk from Breese Hollow Dairy, a small, local grassfed jersey cow raw dairy. Farm and retail sales (legal).

2010 July ,Pennsylvania, Staphylococcus aureus, no confirmed illnesses. Recall of 60-day aged raw cow milk hard cheddar cheese from Milky Way Dairy – small (~30 cows) Holstein-Friesian raw milk dairy. Farm store and retail  sales. (legal).

2010 July New York, Listeria monocytogenes, no confirmed illnesses. Recall of pasteurized Queso fresco cheese from Azteca Linda Corp. – unspecified milk source. Retail sales (legal).

2010 August, Pennsylvania, Salmonella enterica, no confirmed illnesses. Recall of raw cow milk from Jersey Hollow Farm, a small small, local raw milk dairy. Retail sales (legal).

2010 August, California, Oregon, Washington, Salmonella enterica Serotype Braenderup, 2 hospitalizations, 23 ill. Outbreak from pasteurized cow milk and cr
eam pasteurized juices from same farm also recalled. Sources and pasteurized milk from certified rBST-free independent dairy farms in southern Oregon. Retail sales (legal).

2010 August, Rhode Island, Listeria monocytogenes, no confirmed illnesses.

Recall of Queso fresco cheese (pasteurized) from Azteca Linda Corp. – unspecified milk source. Retail sales (legal).

2010 August,  Missouri,  Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus, no confirmed illnesses. Recall of 60-day aged raw cow milk cheese from Morningland Dairy, a medium sized, pasture-based raw milk cheese dairy.  Retail sales (legal).

2010 September-October, Washington, Listeria monocytogenes, no confirmed illnesses. Recall of 60-day aged raw cow milk cheeses, Estrella Family Creamery – small, grassfed cow and goat raw milk dairy. Farm and retail sales (legal).

2010, October, Minnesota, Campylobacter and Cryptosporidium parvum, 7 ill. Outbreak from raw dairy products. Hartmann Dairy Farm – no pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics or genetically modified grains fed to raw milk dairy cows. Farm sales (legal) and Buyer’s Club (illegal off-farm sales).

2010, November, Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada,  E. coli O157:H7 15 hospitalizations, 1 child with HUS. Outbreak strain found in cheese linked to Costco “Cheese Road Show;” recall expanded to all company cheeses on 11/17/10;  no Listeria illnesses reported; Listeria monocytogenes also found in cheese . Outbreak from 60-day aged cheese raw gouda cheese; other cheeses from Bravo Farms Cheese Factory – medium-sized, hormone and antibiotic free dairy. Retail sales  (legal).

2010, November, Colorado, E. coli O157:H, no confirmed illnesses. Recall of imported pasteurized Gorgonzola cheese imported from Italy.Retail sales/imported product. (legal).

2010, November,  Washington, Listeria monocytogenes, no confirmed illnesses. Recall of pasteurized Queso and ricotta Mexican-style cheeses from Del Bueno – unspecified milk source. Retail sales (legal).

2010, November, Texas, Salmonella, 1 adult hospitalization (septicemia). Outbreak strain found in milk.  4 ill. Outbreak from raw cow milk Lavon Farms – medium sized (~200 cows), a  Guernsey and Jersey raw milk dairy. Farm store sales (legal).

2010, December Minnesota, Oregon, Vermont,  Washington,  E. coli O157:H7, 1 hospitalization. Outbreak strain found in cheeses. 8 ill.  Outbreak from sheep, goat, and cow 60-day aged raw milk cheeses produced by Sally Jackson Cheeses – small,  raw dairy with cows, sheep and goats. Retail sales (legal).

2010-2011, ongoing, Utah, Salmonella Newport, 62 ill. As many as 2,100 may have been infected since 2009.  Outbreak from raw milk queso fresco cheese. Unknown source of raw milk. Illegal distribution of raw milk cheese.

2011, January, California, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureu. No confirmed illnesses. Recall of pasteurized Oaxaca string Cheese La Original from Surtex Foods – unspecified milk source. Retail sales (legal).

2011, February, Washington,  Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. No confirmed illnesses. Recall of raw cow milk. The Country Market – small size, pastured (summer) and fed hay (winter) raw milk dairy. Retail sales (legal).

2011, March, Texas. Positive alkaline phosphatase test. No confirmed illneses.Recall of whole chocolate milk due to inadqueate pasteurization. Oak Farms Dairy – processor that sources from rbST hormone free dairies. Retail sales. (legal).

2011, March-August, Pennsylvania, Yersinia enterocolitica,  16 illnesses. Glass-bottled pasteurized milk and ice cream. Small family farm, Brunton Dairy, ~100 cows  with on-farm pasteurization; home delivery. Retail sales. (legal).

2011, April, Massachusetts, High coliform counts (15 times allowable level), no confirmed illnesses. Cease and desist order of raw cow milk. Eastleigh Farm – medium sized (~200 cows), mostly grassfed and pastured raw milk dairy.  Farm store sales.  (legal).

2011, New York, Staphylococcus aureus, no confirmed illnesses. Recall of pasteurized queso fresco cheese from Quesos CentroAmericano Corp. Retail  sales. (legal).

2011, June,  Wisconsin, Campylobacter jejuni, 18 ill. Outbreak from raw cow milk. Unnamed Racine County farm – 250 cows, sells to processor. Parent brought bulk tank raw milk to school event.

2011, June, Michigan,  Coxiella burnetii (Q fever), One patient hospitalized with meningitis, 3 ill.  Outbreak from raw cow milk from Dairy Delight, Livingstone County, MI Farm. Herdshare (legal, unregulated).

2011, May, New Jersey, Listeria monocytogenes. No confirmed illnesses. Recall of Blue Stilton pasteurized cheese. Schratter Foods, Inc. Retail sales (legal).

2011, May-July, Alaska, Campylobacter jejuni, 18 ill. Outbreak strain isolated from cow manure Listeria monocytogenes isolated from milk. Outbreak from raw cow milk. Byers Farm – (~150 cows) in Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Valley Herdshare. (legal, unregulated).

2011, May-June, New Jersey, Listeria monocytogenes, no confirmed illnesses. Recall of pasteurized cheeses from Atlanta Corp. Retail sales (legal).

2011, July, North Carolina, Campylobacter, 8 ill. Outbreak from raw cow milk from Tucker Adkins in York County (~60 cows). Retail sales legal in South Carolina, illegal in North Carolina.

2011, August, Virginia, Salmonella, no confirmed illnesses. Recall cheddar cheese spread (pasteurized) Miss Bonnies Gourmet. Retail sales (legal). 

2011, September, New York, Campylobacter, 5 ill.  Outbreak from raw cow milk from  Willow Marsh Farm, all natural grassfed milk no feed additives or hormones.Farm sales (legal).

2011, September, Washington, Listeria monocytogenes, no confirmed illnesses. Recall of queso fresco cheese (pasteurized) from Del Bueno Casera. Retail sales (legal).

2011, September, Washington, E. coli, no confirmed illnesses. Recall of raw cows milk from Pride & Joy Creamery, dairy with grassfed cows. Retail sales (legal).

2011, September, Georgia. Positive alkaline phosphatase test, no confirmed illnesses. Recall of skim milk due to improper pasteurization. Johnston Family Farm. Retail sales (
legal).

2011, September, Illinois ,Positive alkaline phosphatase test, no confirmed illnesses. Recall of all dairy products due to improper pasteurization. Ludwig Dairy. Retail sales (legal).

2011, October, Indiana, Listeria monocytogenes, no confirmed illnesses. Recall from pasteurized blue cheese. Fair Oaks Dairy Products. Retail sales (legal). 

2011, October, Iowa. Positive alkaline phosphatase test, no confirmed illnesses. Recall of improperly pasteurized milk. All Natural Creamery in Wellman, Iowa. Retail sales (legal). 

2011, November, Washington, Listeria monocytogenes, no confirmed illnesses. Recall raw milk cheddar cheese Golden Glen Creamery; small herd of milk cows at the creamery Retail sales legal for 60-day aged cheese. 

2011, August-October, California, E. coli O157:H7. 5 ill. Outbreak from raw cow milk Organic Pastures Dairy, grassfed, pastured (~400 cows). Retail sales (legal).

2011, August-November, Washington. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. 3 ill. Outbreak from raw cow milk Cozy Vale Creamery and Farm, Tenino, WA; pasture-based micro dairy. Retail sales (legal).

2012, January, California, Listeria monocytogenes, no confirmed illnesses. Recall of pasteurized Tresse cheese and Shinglish Cheese. Kradjian Imp Co Cedar Tree brand, Glendale, CA. Retail sales (legal).

2012, January, Washington, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, no confirmed illnesses. Recall of raw cows milk. Frisia Dairy and Creamery of Tenino, WA; dairy discontinued raw milk sales after recall. Retail sales (legal).

2012, January, Wisconsin, Listeria monocytogenes, no confirmed illnesses. Various pasteurized cheese products. Alpine Slicing and Cheese Conversion Co. and Bekkum Family Farms. Retail sales (legal).

2012, January, Kansas, Campylobacter jejuni, 18 ill. Outbreak from raw goat milk. South Central Kansas (unnamed). Farm sales. (legal).

2012, January-February, Pennsylvania/Maryland/New Jersey/West Virginia, Campylobacter jejuni , 80 ill. Outbreak from raw cow milk. The Family Cow dairy in Chambersburg; ~200 milking cows. Retail sales (legal in PA) – customers brought milk to other states for personal use.

2012, March, New Jersey, Listeria monocytogenes, 1 illness from pasteurized Los Corrales Queso Fresco Fresh Cheese and Banana Leaf. El Ranchero Del Sur, LLC of South River, NJ, Retail sales (legal).

2012, March, California, Campylobacter jejuni, 9 illnesses suspected from raw cows milk and other dairy products. Claravale Farm, San Benito County, CA; Jersey herd. Retail sales (legal).