State orders fifth recall since 2019 of raw milk sold from Modesto-area dairy farm

John Holland
·2 min read

The state Tuesday ordered the fifth recall since 2019 of raw milk sold from a Modesto-area dairy farm.

This one involves sheep milk that tested high in bacteria called Campylobacter jejuni, said a news release from the California Department of Food and Agriculture. No illnesses have been reported.

The product came from Raw Milk Simply Bottled, on Maze Boulevard about six miles west of Modesto. Its CDFA permit allows direct sales of unpasteurized milk to consumers as long as other safeguards are followed.

The current order does not keep the farm from selling cow and goat milk. It had cow milk recalls in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and a goat milk recall in 2021. They resulted from the same bacteria, the CDFA said, but it had no reports of people getting sick.

Visit during 2021 recall

The Modesto Bee could not reach owner Joe Bento on Tuesday afternoon. He provided a tour for the newspaper during the last recall and said raw milk is generally safe thanks to sanitation and refrigeration. The Bee also heard from customers who said it is tastier and more nutritious than conventional milk.

The current recall is for half-gallon plastic jugs labeled as “Valley Milk Simply Bottled Raw Sheep Milk,” with expiration dates of Sept. 28 through Oct. 1, 2022.

“Consumers are strongly urged to dispose of any product remaining in their refrigerators,” the release said. The order came from Dr. Annette Jones, the state veterinarian.

Symptoms vary among consumers

The release said symptoms of campylobacteriosis include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. They usually occur two to five days after exposure and last about a week. Some people report no symptoms.

The CDFA warned that some people with compromised immune systems can develop a more serious, life-threatening infection. A small portion may have joint pain and swelling after infection. A rare disease called Guillian-Barre syndrome, which causes weakness and paralysis, can occur several weeks after the initial illness.

Raw milk is a tiny niche in the dairy industry. Mainstream groups have sought to ban it on the grounds that the lack of pasteurization is too risky.