Anneli Fogt of the Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber reports Vashon’s Burton Hill Farm & Dairy is voluntarily recalling its Grade A Raw Goat Milk due to concerns it could be contaminated with E. coli, Washington State Department of Health officials reported.

According to the recall notice, the toxin-producing E. coli was found in a milk sample from a batch of goat milk that was not sold to the public. However, it is possible that subsequent batches could contain the harmful bacteria, hence the voluntary recall.

Burton Hill Farm owner Collin Medeiros said on Friday that he has tracked down and informed via phone or email all Vashon customers potentially affected by the recall.

“It’s pretty devastating and really shocking,” Medeiros said. “We will not be selling raw milk until the source and cause of the contamination can be found and completely removed. We are working with Washington State Department of Agriculture and private consultants to do this.”

He said that the problem is likely the farm’s bulk tank where the milk is held, and can be “remedied quickly.”

As of Friday, Medeiros was not aware of any illnesses in connection with the farm’s recalled milk.

Medeiros said the recall has been “a wake-up call” that has him rethinking the farm’s selling of raw milk, which inherently comes with risks and a warning label about the potential for bacterial growth.

“Raw milk is an unstable product. It’s very nutritious for humans, but that also makes it a perfect breeding ground for other living things,” he said. “There is calculated risk for both the consumer and producer, so the question is, do we want to take this risk?”