Recall issued: Washington State dairy again in the spotlight for pathogens in its raw milk

A Washington dairy, Old Silvana Creamery, has recalled Jim’s Jerseys raw milk due to E. coli contamination. This follows an earlier recall linked to Campylobacter jejuni infections. State health officials detected E. coli during routine testing, prompting the recall of all Jim’s Jerseys raw milk with a best buy date of August 23. The product is sold in half-gallon and gallon containers and was distributed in Western Washington.

The dairy routinely tests its milk, but a sample tested positive for toxin-producing E. coli by the Washington State Department of Agriculture, despite previous negative results from an independent lab. No illnesses have been reported, but E. coli infections often go unreported.

Consumers should return affected milk to the purchase location for a full refund. The creamery and state agriculture department are investigating the contamination source.

Raw milk, which isn’t pasteurized, poses health risks due to potential bacterial contamination. Washington State requires strict labeling for raw milk to warn consumers of these risks.