Jackie’s Jersey Milk is recalling its raw milk because the product is potentially contaminated with the dangerous, and sometimes deadly, E. coli bacteria. The Seattle Times said that, according to Jackie’s Jersey Milk, routine sampling by the Washington State Agriculture Department revealed E. coli contamination during its review.

To date, said the Seattle Times, no illnesses have been linked to the recalled raw milk.

The recall involves all Jackie’s Jersey Raw Jersey Cow Milk with a “use by” date through March 4, said the Seattle Times, which noted that the half-gallon containers of raw milk are sold in retail grocery stores in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, and King counties in Seattle.

Jackie’s Jersey Milk said it is working with the Agriculture Department to determine the contamination’s source and claims it correct one defective piece of equipment, said the Seattle Times.

E. coli are a group of bacteria found in animal intestines and feces. While some strains are necessary for digestion; some are harmful, deadly, and toxin producing and part of a group of E. coli called Verocytotoxigenic E. coli, or VTECs, also known as Shiga-producing E. coli. Of particular concern is the virulent, sometimes deadly E. coli O157:H7 strain that is part of this group and is generally found to be the culprit in E. coli-related food-borne illness outbreak.

E. coli may cause fatal blood poisoning, cystitis, deadly septicemia, and death. Symptoms of E. coli infection include stomach cramps and watery diarrhea that may turn bloody within one to three days. E. coli taints meat through improper butchering and processing practices and, once released in the body, produces the Shiga-producing toxins that have been linked to kidney damage in young children, and can also lead to kidney failure and death.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at 11:47 am and is filed under E. Coli, Food Poisoning.