‘Alarming' levels of human E. coli discovered in Ohio park
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The student team investigated E. coli levels in the soil at Burnet Woods Park after 'a combined sewer overflow event' that happened earlier this month as heavy rain drenched the region for days, according to our news partner WCPO-TV in Cincinnati.
A sample taken eight hours after the overflow event found there was 600 times the amount of E. coli permitted for recreational waters, according to a release from UC professor Bob Hyland.
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Combined sewer systems collect everything from rainwater runoff to sewage to wastewater, all in one pipe, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Untreated storm and wastewater can flow into nearby bodies of water when the amount of runoff is greater than the system's capacity, the station reports.
Installation of combined sewers was prohibited by the Ohio EPA because of their pollution concerns, according to the agency's website.
Samples taken at three locations in the lower valley of the park at 8 hours, 24 hours and 72 hours after the overflow event indicated 'expected but incomplete declines' in the level of CFUs as time went on, as reported by WCPO.
'More research should be conducted in Burnet Woods, as well as other Cincinnati parks with non-enumerated CSOs, to better understand the scope and severity of the risk, as well as the rate of CFU decline under different conditions,' a researcher said in a preliminary report on the data found.
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USA Today
15 hours ago
- USA Today
What we know about Keely Farms Dairy in NSB, accused of selling raw milk, sickening 21
While the Florida Department of Health cited Keely Farms Dairy in New Smyrna Beach as the source of raw milk that sickened 21 people, supporters have taken to social media to comment on their own experience with the family business. Keely Farms also wrote on Facebook Aug. 7 that it hadn't heard from the Department of Health and had no idea it was even being investigated. "We were not contacted by the Department of Health prior to or regarding their statement this morning," the post said. "The Florida Department of Health has not informed Keely Farms of any investigation or administrative action. The Department of Health has not indicated to Keely Farms that it committed any wrongdoing, so its press release has blindsided us." The dairy's owners deny being notified of any safety issues by the state health department, and posted on Facebook Aug. 4 that "The ag inspector visited last month. We passed, as always." The farm did not respond to phone and email messages from The News-Journal. What is Keely Farms Dairy? Raw, or unpasteurized, milk consumption is nothing new, and is usually popular among those wanting less processed foods in their diet. But on Aug. 4, the Department of Health said nearly two dozen people, including six children, became sick from Campylobacter and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli after consuming unpasteurized milk produced by Keely Farms Dairy. The reported cases date back to January. Here's what we know about Keely Farms. Keely Farms Dairy is a small, family business located on about 100 acres on South Glencoe Road in New Smyrna Beach. It is owned and operated by Keely Exum and her husband; the couple has several young children. On its website, Keely Farms Dairy says it believes in "responsible, sustainable farming," and grows much of its own feed locally for its heritage-sized Jersey cows. Its raw milk is priced at $12 a gallon, while the farm also offers Greek yogurt, kefir and feta cheese. The dairy farm sells and delivers its products to Brevard, Lake, Volusia, and Seminole counties and most of the greater Orlando area; some southeast Florida stores carry Keely Farms products. What food safety practices does Keely Farms Dairy use? In Florida, selling raw milk for human consumption is illegal. However, raw milk can be sold legally as pet food or animal feed. Dairy farms selling raw milk must register with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, according to the FDACS website. On the Keely Farms Dairy website, the owners state: "Our raw milk is milked and then processed in a clean environment with American-made, stainless-steel, grade-A quality equipment. We use in-line filters during milking to be sure no dirt gets into our milk. We chill the milk immediately after it leaves the cow. We test our cows frequently. We test at our dairy lab to assess milk quality." Keely Farms also raises questions about customers' own use of the raw milk produced at the farm, noting the following on Facebook: "Raw milk is sold in Florida 'not for human consumption.' It is clearly stated on our labels as required by law. Due to legal requirements, in spite of the quality of the equipment used for processing and cleanliness of the facility, this milk is sold only as pet or livestock food." Is raw milk safe? Florida dairy farm identified as source of raw milk E. coli outbreak. Why is the FDOH concerned with Keely Farms Dairy's practices? In its statement this week, the Department of Health said: 'Sanitation practices in this farm are of concern due to the number of cases," adding, 'The Florida Department of Health will continue working with Keely Farms Dairy to ensure that effective sanitation practices are implemented consistently across every batch.' The FDOH has not responded to The News-Journal's requests for comment. Customers speak out about Keely Farms Dairy on Facebook Hundreds of comments left on the Keely Farms Dairy Facebook page — many from customers — take a more skeptical response to the health department's findings. From Yeshua Logos: "Cleanest wonderful milk and all dairy products; we've visited the farm several times and have purchased multiple products. ... Lord Jesus bring truth to light expand this wonderful honest superb business." Brit Richards posted: "Question: Did Keely Farms Dairy know about about any of the cases of sickness? I'm wondering if the farm was made aware by any of the customers?" "We've been customers for 10 years, I believe now," wrote Matt-Abby Riba. "Wouldn't change a thing and refuse to purchase from commercial industry. So thankful for the Keelys! From Barry McCarty: "I love Keely Farms Dairy! I have been to the farm plenty of times, I have watched them milk they sanitize every cow before milking super clean, and I've been inside of their bulk tank room which is spotless. What you see on the outside is a farm and there's dirt, but everything on the inside is tested and shipped. I grew up on a farm and have been drinking raw milk my whole entire life. I think they're doing a great job!" Others, like Bridget Manard, were not as positive: "You shouldn't be selling raw milk anyway. Go pasteurize it. You may have done some real damage to someone." From Amanda Luciano: "I was buying off of your farm for many years until recently your milk started to get our family sick as well. Once we stopped purchasing from you and started getting off another farm the random 'food poisoning' symptoms stopped. I don't believe this farm is being targeted; I genuinely believe they may be having a hard time keeping up with their demand and slacking on their hygiene in result to keep up with orders." Posted by Starla Black: "If it was in fact your milk — I see too many people re-selling it. When that is done, quality control goes out the window. There is no way to guarantee it was kept cold or that it's fresh."
USA Today
15 hours ago
- USA Today
Florida surgeon general says raw milk has health benefits. Experts say he's wrong
Florida law says it's illegal to sell raw milk for human consumption, but that's not stopping some of the state's top officials from supporting residents who want to drink it. Some have even made a complete 180, from promoting pasteurized milk to promoting consumer freedom within days. In an Aug. 12 post on X, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said Floridians "have the freedom to make informed health choices." Floridians have the freedom to make informed health choices. I support the decision to consume raw milk when sought for potential health benefits and protective factors. Be aware of your source and know the "I support the decision to consume raw milk when sought for potential health benefits and protective factors. Be aware of your source and know the risks," Ladapo wrote. Illness from raw milk can cause diarrhea, stomach cramping and vomiting, and severe complications can lead to paralysis, kidney failure, stroke, or even death, federal authorities say. Interest in raw milk has been growing in recent years. In June 2024, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he "only drinks raw milk." Raw milk doesn't cure ailments, experts say Raw milk devotees say it tastes better and is healthier, but according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the American Medical Association, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, raw milk does not contain any extra beneficial bacteria and will not cure or treat asthma, allergies or lactose intolerance. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson agreed with Ladapo in a statement given to the USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida on Aug. 12: 'State Surgeon General Ladapo and I share the same position on raw milk. People should make informed decisions." To be sure, it's a reversal to what his agency was saying a week ago. In a press release on Aug. 6, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services encouraged Floridians to drink "only" pasteurized milk. "Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) are encouraging Floridians to protect their health by only consuming pasteurized milk products," the press release says. 'Florida's pasteurized milk supply is safe, nutritious, and closely controlled from the farm to your local grocery store,' Simpson said in the release. 'There have been no reported illnesses from pasteurized milk products in Florida, so Floridians should continue to buy and enjoy nutritious and wholesome dairy products from Florida farmers.' As previously reported earlier this month, 21 people got sick and seven were hospitalized for bacterial infections, including E. coli, from drinking raw milk from Keely Farms Dairy in New Smyrna Beach. Raw milk: OK as pet food in Florida Raw milk can be sold as pet food in Florida, but it must be clearly labeled "not for human consumption." the Keely Farms' webpage did not mention pets. Six of the infected people were children under age 10, the Florida Department of Health said. The cases were all in Central and Northeast Florida. According to the CDC, improperly handled raw milk is responsible for nearly three times more hospitalizations than any other food-borne disease source. And so far in 2025, there have been seven recalls or outbreaks from raw milk in the United States. More from the Palm Beach Post: Opinion | Floridians can make America healthy again by not drinking raw milk Ana Goñi-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network – Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@
USA Today
16 hours ago
- USA Today
Woman sues Florida dairy farm claiming raw milk caused death of fetus
A central Florida woman is suing a dairy farm and grocery store for allegedly selling raw milk that hospitalized both her and her toddler and also led to the death of her unborn baby. Rachel Maddox of Seminole County said in the lawsuit filed Aug. 13 that she bought raw milk sourced from Keely Farms Dairy at the Wild Hare Natural Market in Longwood, Florida in early June. The lawsuit alleged that her toddler contracted disease-causing bacteria after consuming raw, unpasteurized milk and that she fell ill from her toddler while pregnant. The complaint states that Maddox purchased the raw milk for her husband after he expressed appreciation for it, as he had grown up in Eastern Europe drinking farm-fresh milk. After purchasing the raw milk, she inquired about the label, which 'said something to the effect 'for consumption by animals' and was told it was a technical requirement to sell 'farm milk.'' Maddox and her husband, who is not named in the complaint, fed the milk to their toddler, who on June 8 'began to experience diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, chills and resultant dehydration,' according to the complaint. The following day, the toddler was hospitalized and tested positive for both E. coli and Campylobacter. The Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and Campylobacter infections can cause diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps. In severe cases, they can cause kidney failure, which is of particular concern for children, according to the Florida Department of Health. Despite not drinking the raw milk herself, hospital testing later confirmed she also contracted Campylobacter while caring for her toddler, the lawsuit states. The lawsuit alleges that the raw milk producer and seller are liable because the product contained Campylobacter and E. coli and failed to give adequate warnings of the product's dangers. It also claims that Keely Farms Dairy and Wild Hare Natural Market were negligent in preparing, testing, labeling, and selling the product, while breaching the 'implied warranty of merchantability' of the raw milk. The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages and costs, as well as a jury trial, but does not specify an amount. Fetus died at 19 to 20 weeks, lawsuit states Maddox went to an Orlando hospital on June 13 after exhibiting symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, and chills that led to septic shock and severe dehydration, according to the suit. 'Because she was pregnant and dehydrated, she was hospitalized for two days prior to discharge,' the suit states. Maddox's fetus died on June 18, and she was readmitted to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with sepsis. The complaint said an autopsy placed the age of her fetus at between 19 and 20 weeks. She was discharged, but later readmitted to another hospital when 'her condition deteriorated,' the complaint said. The lawsuit added that her toddler also spent four days hospitalized, and bloody stools led to a 'fear of hemolytic uremic syndrome,' a serious disease typically caused by an E. coli infection that affects the kidneys and blood clotting system. The child underwent surgery for intussusception − a condition commonly found in children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years, where one intestine slides into the other, causing a blockage, the suit states. The child later also experienced severe abdominal pain and remained hospitalized for two more days, and has continued to be treated as of Aug. 13, the date of the lawsuit's filing. 21 cases of infections linked to Keely Farms Dairy in 2025 Maddox's lawsuit comes after the Florida Department of Health on Aug. 7 announced that it had been tracking 21 cases of infections linked to Keely Farms Dairy since Jan. 24. Six children under age 10 were among those infected by Campylobacter and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), the Florida health department said. Seven of the people infected by drinking the farm's raw milk were hospitalized, while 'severe complications' were found in at least two of the cases. However, neither Keely Farms Dairy nor Wild Hare Natural Market has responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit. The state's health department defines raw milk as animal milk that has not undergone pasteurization or heat treatment to eliminate bacteria. Keely Farms Dairy label: 'Not for human consumption' Keely Farms Dairy, along with some of its customers and supporters, has launched a social media campaign to defend its practices. The dairy stated it had not been informed of any investigation by the Florida health department before the announcement linking it to 21 illnesses in Northeast and Central Florida. In the Facebook post, the New Smyrna Beach farm notes that it sells raw milk 'only as livestock feed. It is labeled not for human consumption.' Keely Zeller Exum, owner of the dairy farm, declined to comment when reached by phone Aug. 14, saying she wants to speak with her lawyer before agreeing to any interviews. 'The Department of Health has not been to the farm or taken any samples here,' the business's post reads. 'The Department of Health has not indicated to Keely Farms that it committed any wrongdoing, so its press release has blindsided us.' What are the dangers of raw milk? Raw milk can be a source of foodborne illness and while contamination can be reduced, there is no guaranteed protection from harmful germs in raw milk, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 'Pasteurized milk offers the same nutritional benefits without the risks of raw milk consumption,' the CDC said on its website, adding that since the early 1900s, pasteurization has led to a drop in milk-borne illnesses. According to the Florida Department of Health, raw milk can contain disease-causing bacteria, including Campylobacter, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Listeria, Salmonella, and others. The bacteria can cause gastrointestinal illness, ranging from diarrhea and vomiting to stomach cramps. Contributing: Saleen Martin and Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY
