At least 80 people fell ill this summer with Campylobacter infections linked to the consumption of unpasteurized milk from a farm in Utah, according to Utah health officials speaking with state lawmakers on Wednesday. Health officials said that the outbreak also contributed to the death of one immunocompromised man. Twenty percent of cases were hospitalized. The farm linked to the outbreak, Ropelato Dairy in west Ogden, had its license reinstated on Oct. 3 after testing of samples showed no more sign of contamination, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. The state of Utah requires raw milk products to bear a label warning consumers of the potential illness risk, but Ropelato’s milk reportedly did not carry that label. The vast majority of patients were Utah residents, though at least one was from Idaho and one from California. Ages of patients ranged from 2 to 74 years old. Most illnesses developed between May 9 and July 21. State health officials suspended the dairy’s license to sell milk on Aug. 4. During a legislative hearing on the outbreak, a number of Utah lawmakers reportedly said that they did not want this incident to lead to restrictions on raw milk sales in the state. State law allows raw milk dairies in Utah to sell products directly to consumers as long as they own the store selling the products. Retail sales at stores not owned by the dairy are not allowed. Raw milk in Utah is also subject to monthly testing for pathogens, and the animals must be tested every six months.
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