Shiga-toxin E. coli found in raw milk; Washington dairy recalls product

Frisia Dairy and Creamery of Tenino, Wash., located about 15 miles southeast of Olympia, has recalled its retail raw milk products because they may be contiminated with E. coli.

There have been no reported illnesses.

The unpasteurized milk products, which include whole, skim and cream milk and sold in pint, half-gallon and gallon containers, are distributed through eight retail outlets in Lewis, Thurston and Pierce counties. The milk is also sold on location at the dairy, 4800 Skookumchuck Rd. SE. in Tenino.

The recall was initiated by the dairy after Washington State Department of Agriculture’s (WSDA) routine, monthly sampling discovered toxin-producing E. coli in a skim milk sample. E. coli was not found in other samples and has not been previously found at the dairy. The dairy and WSDA are investigating the cause of the contamination.

A table of raw milk related outbreaks – that’s outbreaks, not the dozens upon dozens of recalls — is available at http://bites.ksu.edu/rawmilk.