E. coli illness link prompts raw milk recall

A brand of raw cow’s milk has been recalled in Northern Ireland because of a link to illness.

Kenneth Hanna’s Farm Shop is recalling Ken’s Raw Jersey Milk because of possible contamination with Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC). 

“As a precautionary measure we are recalling all batches and use-by dates of our raw cow’s milk due to a potential link to illness from E. coli. Please return or destroy any implicated milk or product made from this raw milk,” said a company statement.

A point-of-sale notice has been displayed in the farm store that is selling the affected product. Ken’s Raw Jersey Milk has a pack size of 2-litres.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) of Northern Ireland said it is aware of a precautionary recall of raw cows’ milk that was sold from Kenneth Hanna’s Farm Shop because of potential contamination with STEC. The agency did not give any information about the E. coli serotype involved or related illness.

“Approximately 400 cases of STEC are reported to the PHA each year. Risk factors include direct contact with farm animals, including visits to open farms and consumption of raw milk. The PHA supports the precautionary suspension of sales and recall of raw milk when a potential association with STEC has been identified.”

Philip Kennedy, head of food safety policy and delivery at the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Northern Ireland, said: “Unpasteurized or raw milk may contain harmful bacteria, because it has not been heat-treated. Where raw drinking milk is offered for sale, it must be labeled with an appropriate health warning. FSA advice is that older people, infants, children, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems, should not consume raw drinking milk.”

About E. coli infections
Food contaminated with E. coli may not look, smell or taste bad. Anyone who has consumed any of the implicated product and developed symptoms of E. coli infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctor about their possible food poisoning. Specific tests are required to diagnose the infections, which can mimic other illnesses.

The symptoms of E. coli infections vary for each person but often include severe stomach cramps and diarrhea, which is often bloody. Some patients may also have a fever. Most patients recover within five to seven days. Others can develop severe or life-threatening symptoms and complications.

About 5 percent to 10 percent of those diagnosed with E. coli infections develop a potentially life-threatening kidney failure complication, known as a hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Symptoms of HUS include fever, abdominal pain, feeling very tired, decreased frequency of urination, small unexplained bruises or bleeding, and pallor. 

Some people with HUS recover within a few weeks, but some suffer permanent injuries or death. This condition can occur among people of any age but is most common in children younger than five years old because of their immature immune systems, older adults because of deteriorating immune systems, and people with compromised immune systems such as cancer patients. People who experience HUS symptoms should immediately seek emergency medical care.

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