Raw Milk E. Coli Threat Ignored in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Assembly early this morning passed a bill legalizing the sale of raw milk for public consumption.
The 60-35 vote overrode serious health concerns raised by the state’s own disease experts, pediatricians, food safety groups and farm bureau. County health investigators from around the state had testified about the dangers such a law would pose — increasing the public’s exposure to toxic micro-organisms.
E. coli O157:H7 is one of the threats that will lurk in the commercial trade of raw milk because pasteurization is required to kill the pathogen, which can be expressed through a cow’s udders but also can contaminate milk supplies via the incidental spread of cow feces in milking environments.
Campylobacter and Salmonella can also contaminate raw milk in this way and outbreaks of these illnesses have happened already this year in several states, including Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Pennsylvania.
Rep. Andy Jorgensen (D-Fort Atkinson) told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that he opposed the bill because the public currently sees the state’s signature product as “delicious, nutritious and safe.”
“I don’t want to tarnish that,” Jorgensen said.
Under the legislation, sales could take place only at farms where the milk was produced. The bill would sunset on Dec. 31, 2011. Farmers would have to post a sign declaring that raw milk may contain organisms that cause disease.
The bill, a similar version of which was previously passed by the state Senate, also would have to say that raw milk is not recommended for certain people, including the very young and very old, women who are pregnant or nursing, and individuals with diabetes or compromised immune systems.
Tags: e coli O157, raw milk e coli
