Latest news with #KeithSchneider
New York Post
5 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
21 sick with E. coli and food poisoning, including 6 young kids, after ingesting raw milk from Florida farm
Nearly two dozen people, including six young children, were infected with E. coli or Campylobacter infections after drinking raw milk from a Florida farm, according to local health officials. Of the 21 people sickened, seven were hospitalized, including two with severe complications, after consuming the tainted dairy. It's unclear if any of those hospitalized included the young children, who are all under 10 years old. 4 Twenty-one people were sickened after consuming raw milk from a farm in Florida. tonaquatic – Advertisement Officials also didn't specify whether those being treated suffered from E. coli, Campylobacter or both bacterial infections. 'Sanitation practices in this farm are of particular concern due to the number of cases,' public health officials wrote in a state advisory. The farm that sparked the outbreak across central and northeast Florida was not named. Advertisement The bacterial infections can primarily cause various forms of gastrointestinal illnesses and, in severe cases, life-threatening complications like kidney failure. Still, some groups — like vegans who believe dairy farming is unethical — seek out raw milk as a preferred alternative in spite of the risks health officials ceaselessly warn against. 4 The 21 infected reported cases of E. coli and Campylobacter. AP 'We invented pasteurization for a reason. It's maddening that this is happening,' Keith Schneider, a food safety professor at the University of Florida, said. Advertisement In an attempt to cater to the unrelenting raw milk lovers, many states have implemented varying regulations regarding the dairy's sale. Some, bizarrely, permit 'cowshares' where customers can purchase milk produced by designated animals, while others only allow raw milk to be consumed by farm owners and their employees or 'non-paying guests.' 4 Unpasteurized milk isn't heated up to the right temperature to kill bacteria. AP Florida explicitly prohibits the sale and distribution of raw milk for human consumption, so many retailers skirt around the rule by labeling their products as for pets or animals only. Once the carton is out the door, though, it's anybody's game. Advertisement 4 Florida bans the commercial sale of raw milk for human consumption. Pixel-Shot – Between September 2023 and March 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 'one of the largest food-borne outbreaks linked to raw milk in recent US history' that infected more than 160 people in California with Salmonella. The outbreak was linked back to raw milk products from the same dairy, according to the CDC. Unlike Florida, California has limited regulations on the commercial sale of raw milk. With Post wires.
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Raw milk sickens 21 people in Florida including 6 children
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Six children are among 21 people who have E. coli or campylobacter infections after consuming raw milk from a farm in Florida, public health officials said. Seven people have been hospitalized, and at least two of them are suffering severe complications, the Florida Department of Health said Monday. It did not specify if any of the six infected children under 10 are among those being treated in hospitals, nor how many people were infected by E. coli, campylobacter or both bacteria. 'Sanitation practices in this farm are of particular concern due to the number of cases,' reads the state advisory, which did not identify the farm linked to the cluster of infections in northeast and central Florida. Raw milk appears to be gaining in popularity, despite years of warnings about the health risks of drinking unpasteurized products. The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say raw milk is one of the 'riskiest' foods people can consume. Raw milk is far more likely than pasteurized milk to cause illnesses and hospitalizations because of dangerous bacteria such as campylobacter, listeria, salmonella and E. coli, research shows. The infections can cause gastrointestinal illness, and in some cases may lead to serious complications, including a life-threatening form of kidney failure. Young children, the elderly, immunocompromised people and pregnant women are at greater risk of complications. 'We invented pasteurization for a reason,' said Keith Schneider, a food safety professor at the University of Florida. 'It's maddening that this is happening.' States have widely varying regulations regarding raw milk, with some allowing retail purchases in stores and others allowing sale only at farms. Some states allow 'cowshares,' in which customers buy milk produced by designated animals, and some allow consumption only by farm owners, employees or 'non-paying guests.' In Florida, the sale and distribution of raw milk for human consumption is illegal, but retailers get around the ban by labeling their products as for pet or animal food only. Schneider called it a 'wink, wink, nudge, nudge,' form of regulation. 'Everybody knows that they're selling it for human consumption,' Schneider said, adding that people getting sick — or even seriously ill — from drinking raw milk is 'not a question of if, but when.'
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Raw milk sickens 21 people in Florida including 6 children
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Six children are among 21 people who have E. coli or campylobacter infections after consuming raw milk from a farm in Florida, public health officials said. Seven people have been hospitalized, and at least two of them are suffering severe complications, the Florida Department of Health said Monday. It did not specify if any of the six infected children under 10 are among those being treated in hospitals, nor how many people were infected by E. coli, campylobacter or both bacteria. 'Sanitation practices in this farm are of particular concern due to the number of cases,' reads the state advisory, which did not identify the farm linked to the cluster of infections in northeast and central Florida. Raw milk appears to be gaining in popularity, despite years of warnings about the health risks of drinking unpasteurized products. The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say raw milk is one of the 'riskiest' foods people can consume. Raw milk is far more likely than pasteurized milk to cause illnesses and hospitalizations because of dangerous bacteria such as campylobacter, listeria, salmonella and E. coli, research shows. The infections can cause gastrointestinal illness, and in some cases may lead to serious complications, including a life-threatening form of kidney failure. Young children, the elderly, immunocompromised people and pregnant women are at greater risk of complications. 'We invented pasteurization for a reason,' said Keith Schneider, a food safety professor at the University of Florida. 'It's maddening that this is happening.' States have widely varying regulations regarding raw milk, with some allowing retail purchases in stores and others allowing sale only at farms. Some states allow 'cowshares,' in which customers buy milk produced by designated animals, and some allow consumption only by farm owners, employees or 'non-paying guests.' In Florida, the sale and distribution of raw milk for human consumption is illegal, but retailers get around the ban by labeling their products as for pet or animal food only. Schneider called it a 'wink, wink, nudge, nudge,' form of regulation. Wednesdays What's next in arts, life and pop culture. 'Everybody knows that they're selling it for human consumption,' Schneider said, adding that people getting sick — or even seriously ill — from drinking raw milk is 'not a question of if, but when.' ___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Florida Officials Sound Alarm on Raw Milk, Children Among 21 Sick
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Six children are among 21 people infected with E. coli or campylobacter after drinking raw milk from a Florida farm, state health officials said Monday. Seven people have been hospitalized, at least two with severe complications, though the Florida Department of Health did not say whether any of the infected children under 10 are among those receiving hospital care, or how many illnesses were caused by each type of bacteria. In a public advisory, officials described the farm's sanitation practices as "of particular concern" but did not name the operation, which is located in northeast and central Florida. A dairy cow is milked at a farm in Newcastle, Maine, Tuesday, March 31, 2015. A dairy cow is milked at a farm in Newcastle, Maine, Tuesday, March 31, 2015. Associated Press Despite longstanding federal warnings that raw milk is one of the "riskiest" foods people can consume, unpasteurized dairy appears to be gaining popularity. The FDA and CDC warn that raw milk is far more likely than pasteurized milk to cause illnesses and hospitalizations because it can contain harmful bacteria such as campylobacter, listeria, salmonella and E. coli. These infections can lead to gastrointestinal illness and, in severe cases, life-threatening complications such as kidney failure — with children, the elderly, immunocompromised people and pregnant women at the highest risk. "We invented pasteurization for a reason," said Keith Schneider, a food safety professor at the University of Florida. "It's maddening that this is happening." In Florida, selling raw milk for human consumption is illegal, but retailers skirt the ban by labeling it as pet or animal food. Schneider called the practice a "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" form of regulation, noting that "everybody knows" it is being consumed by people. He said illnesses from raw milk are "not a question of if, but when." This article includes reporting by the Associated Press. This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
CBS News
18-07-2025
- CBS News
Police in New Jersey seek driver who struck 7 geese
Seven geese were struck by a car in a New Jersey town, police said. It happened on Monday on Devoe Road in Spotswood. Investigators are still looking for the driver to determine whether it was on purpose. A car appeared to have hit seven geese. A picture taken shortly after the incident shows that it was raining at the time, and roads were slick. Geese are part of the scenery near Devoe Lake in Spotswood. They can sometimes be found on the busy road a few feet away. "I mean, people get mad and honk at them but no one really hits them. I've been here for over 10 years," Spotswood resident Yan Betleman said. "A lot of other cars, a lot of people stopping and taking pictures and such as well," another witness said. "I've lived here 37 years in the town and I've never seen something like that happen before." Neighbors consider the birds pests, especially because of their droppings on lawns and sidewalks. "I don't even like the geese," Pastor Keith Schneider said. Schneider says he heard squawking after the seven were struck. Geese are known to mourn. He noticed their behavior change. "Their heads were low, they sit together, they don't eat. They were there for the whole day. That was sad," Schneider said. At New Jersey Wild Geese Control, owner William Wharrie uses border collies to shoo the birds away without harming. Wharrie says it's common to see geese walking more than flying this time of year. "It takes 30 days for the eggs to hatch, 30 days after that, parents lose their flight feathers. So they've molted their flight feathers and they can't fly. So they have to stay with the babies for the next 30, which is a critical time," Wharrie said. Spotswood Police put out an alert about the incident, saying they are still looking for the driver. The department is conducting interviews with witnesses. So far, the police haven't been able to locate any video of it happening. "What we're hoping to do is just interview the driver. Was it intentional? Was it just an accident? It was raining," Spotswood Police Capt. Edward Schapley said. Depending on an interview with the driver, police could charge them with leaving the scene of an accident or failure to report it. If it was intentional, they could face hunting violations and animal cruelty charges at the state level, because geese are a protected species by the state and federal government. Spotswood Police are asking anyone who may have seen the incident happen, or may have video of it happening, to contact them at 732-251-2121.
