6 Mo. E. coli cases linked to farm

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Six of Missouri's 13 recent confirmed cases of E. coli have been linked to the consumption of unpasteurized milk or raw dairy products from a farm in Howard County although the source of the infection has not been confirmed, state health officials said Monday.

The remaining seven people with confirmed E. coli infections did not report consuming raw dairy from the farm, state health officials told The Columbia Daily Tribune on Monday.

"The investigation is ongoing, and the source of the infection has not been confirmed," said Gena Terlizzi, spokeswoman for Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. She said all potential sources of exposure were being considered.

The 13 E. coli cases were in Boone, Camden, Clark, Cooper, Howard and Jackson counties. A 2-year-old child in Boone County has been hospitalized for two weeks, but no other hospitalizations were reported.

Eric and Joanna Reuter, who own a certified organic farm in northern Boone County, Chert Hollow Farm, criticized Monday's announcement, alleging that state and Boone County health officials have a bias against raw dairy products. They said health departments have rushed to judgment in the past, forcing some small farms to go out of business or destroy large quantities of food. The couple's farm produces food for 30 families, and those customers also can buy raw goat's milk.

Small farms can lose sales and their reputations because of "raw milk paranoia," Eric Reuter said, but health departments don't suffer consequences if their facts aren't right.

"There's no mechanism for fighting back," he said.

The Reuters don't claim raw milk is safe to drink, and they won't sell it unless the buyer signs a waiver saying the milk will be pasteurized or cooked to make it safe for such things as cheese-making or baking. The Food and Drug Administration recommends home pasteurization to heat the milk to 161 degrees for 15 seconds or 145 degrees for 30 minutes.

The Reuters said they wish announcements such as Monday's that link raw dairy products to diseases would focus on educating consumers about the safe use of raw milk.

"We advocate the sale of raw milk, not the consumption of raw milk," Joanna Reuter said. "With educated customers who know how to handle it, it's fine."

Missouri law allows farmers to sell raw milk or cream at the farm where it originated or after being delivered to a customer. The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services is opposed to a proposed law that would allow producers to sell raw milk at farmers markets.

Eric Reuter accused the Columbia/Boone County health department of having "an agenda" against raw milk."

"We do have an agenda," said Geni Alexander, spokesman for the health department. "It's protecting the health and safety of the community."

Health department director Stephanie Browning said the department's public announcements are based on "good science" and detailed investigation.

"I don't view this as an `us versus them. I'm a big believer in trying to buy my food locally," Browning said.

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Information from: Columbia Daily Tribune, http://www.columbiatribune.com