Harmful Bacteria Found in Raw Milk From North Texas Dairy Farm

K-Bar Dairy, a North Texas distributor of raw milk, has issued a recall on its products over worries that it might contain traces of bacteria linked to fever, swelling and fatigue.The small family-operated dairy farm is located in Wise County, about 40 miles northwest of Fort Worth and 60 miles northwest of Dallas. It produces around 120 gallons per day of raw milk, a type of milk that has not been pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria.A person who drank milk from K-Bar was hospitalized with symptoms of fever, joint pain and fatigue. Strains of Brucella bacteria were subsequently detected in samples of K-Bar dairy, the Department of State Health Services said in an alert issued Monday.The bacteria shows up in the milk of infected animals, like sheep, goats and cows, and the most common source of human infection is eating or drinking unpasteurized products.The recovery process for someone sickened from the bacteria can take months, depending on the timing of treatment and the severity of illness. Death occurs in no more than 2% of all cases.However, the infection is unusual. Without specific testing, the disease may not be diagnosed correctly, and therefore remain in the person's system, the state health agency said. Long-term signs can include recurrent fevers, and swelling of the heart, liver, testicles or spleen.People who drank K-Bar’s raw dairy products since June are at at highest risk. Pregnant women who ingested the bacteria are at risk of premature delivery and miscarriage. Anyone who consumed the products since January should watch for persistent symptoms. K-Bar sells milk, yogurt and kombucha (a fermented beverage that is made with tea, sugar, bacteria and yeast) among other products. Consumers are advised to discard, and not consume, any raw milk products from the company that may still in their possession.Licensed raw milk dairies like K-Bar are only permitted to sell their milk and milk products on the farm, so these products are not available in stores, a DSHS spokesman said.  Continue reading...