Pride & Joy Creamery of Toppenish, WA is recalling organic retail raw fluid milk because it may be contaminated with Escherichia coli bacteria (E. coli) that can cause serious illness.

Image/Devanath
Image/Devanath

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections may cause severe diarrhea, stomach cramps and bloody stool. Symptoms generally appear three to four days after exposure, but can take as long as nine days to appear. The infection sometimes causes hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious disease in which red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys fail. Infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems are especially at risk.

Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact a health care provider. At this time, there are no known illnesses associated with the recalled dates of this product.

The recall was initiated after sampling conducted by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) revealed the presence of toxin-producing E. coli in the product. Pride & Joy Creamery and WSDA continue to investigate the source of the problem.

Pride & Joy Creamery organic retail raw milk displaying Best By dates of February 10 through Feb. 24 has been recalled. The milk is sold in pint, quart, half-gallon, and one-gallon plastic containers. Recalled milk was sold at the on-farm store and online as well as at drop off locations and retail stores throughout Washington state.

Consumers who have purchased Pride & Joy Creamery organic retail raw milk with Best By dates of FEB 10 through FEB 24 are urged not to drink the milk and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 509-854-1389 between the hours of 8AM and 5PM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).

Retail raw milk is legal to sell and buy in Washington State, but the potential health risks are serious. Consumers should read the warning label on the retail raw milk container carefully and ask their retailer to verify the milk was produced and processed by a WSDA-licensed operation.

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