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Wisconsin Ag News Headlines
Pridemore Defends Raw Milk, Clarifies Recent School Outbreak
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 07/26/2011

One of the main supporters of a plan to legalize the sale of raw milk in Wisconsin says a recent outbreak of stomach ailments caused by the consumption of unpasteurized milk at a school event in southern Wisconsin is not necessarily a reason to stop his cause. According to a memo released on Monday from Rep. Don Pridemore's office, the June 3 incident may have been prevented if certain safe-guards had been put in place.

The Hartford Republican is sponsoring a proposal in which producers could sell raw milk if they had a special license from the state, and if the customer brought their own sanitized container. The farm would also be required to hold a Grade A permit to be eligible. But Pridemore says what happened last month at North Cape Elementary School in Raymond may have been a result of something more careless.

"The owners of the farm did not knowingly supply milk directly from their bulk tank to the North Cape Elementary School for the event," the memo stated. "The milk from this farm is not used or tested for human consumption in its natural state, nor is this farm certified organic."

The lawmaker points out that had the milk been cooled in the bulk tank first, the product would not likely have been contaminated by Campylobacter jejuni bacteria, which causes food borne illnesses. The milk was brought to the school by a relative of the farm's owners.

About 45 people attended the gathering, in which 18 people became sick after drinking the unpasteurized milk.

In addition, bacteria strains from the stool samples taken by the patients matched bacteria strains found in the milk samples produced by the local farm. Pridemore says those strains can be transmitted by consuming food contaminated by animal feces or handled by an infected person who does not adequately wash their hands after bathroom use.

No legal action will be taken against the local farm since the farm did not sell the raw milk. The relative who brought the milk to the school will not face sanctions, either. He says donating unpasteurized milk is not against current Wisconsin law, but claims both of these circumstances could be addressed in current legislation that is winding its way through legislature.


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