Vashon’s Burton Hill Farm & Dairy is voluntarily recalling its Grade A Raw Goat Milk due to concerns it could be contaminated with E. coli, Washington State Department of Health officials reported Thursday.
According to the recall notice, the toxin-producing E. coli was found in a milk sample from a batch of goat milk that was not sold to the public. However, it is possible that subsequent batches could contain the harmful bacteria, hence the voluntary recall.
One quart of the recalled milk from a subsequent batches was sold at the Vashon Farmers Market. Nine quarts were sold at Seattle’s Phinney Farmers Market. All are labeled with sell by dates of June 29, 2016 and July 1, 2016.
Burton Hill Farm owner Collin Medeiros said on Friday that he has tracked down and informed via phone or email all Vashon customers potentially affected by the recall.
“It’s pretty devastating and really shocking,” Medeiros said. “We will not be selling raw milk until the source and cause of the contamination can be found and completely removed. We are working with Washington State Department of Agriculture and private consultants to do this.”
He said that the problem is likely the farm’s bulk tank where the milk is held, and can be “remedied quickly.”
As of Friday, Medeiros was not aware of any illnesses in connection with the farm’s recalled milk.
Medeiros said the recall has been “a wake-up call” that has him rethinking the farm’s selling of raw milk, which inherently comes with risks and a warning label about the potential for bacterial growth.
“Raw milk is an unstable product. It’s very nutritious for humans, but that also makes it a perfect breeding ground for other living things,” he said. “There is calculated risk for both the consumer and producer, so the question is, do we want to take this risk?”
The Centers for Disease Control warn about the consumption of raw milk and other dairy products, indicating that they can pose severe health risks, because raw milk has not undergone “pasteurization that kills disease-causing germs, such as Campylobacter, E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella.”
Burton Hill Farm’s cheeses are unaffected by the recall and are safe for sale and consumption.
Anyone who has consumed any of the recalled raw milk and developed symptoms of E. coli infection — diarrhea, stomach cramps and/or bloody stool three to nine days after consumption — is advised to seek medical attention.
— Anneli Fogt
