Woman sues dairy farm after raw milk she bought caused her miscarriage

A Florida, USA mother is suing a dairy farm after allegedly becoming severely ill from one of its products and losing her unborn baby as a result. Rachel Maddox, of Seminole County, claims that raw milk from Keely Farms Dairy gave her a severe bacterial infection that led to a miscarriage. I became very ill, the sickest Ive ever been in my life, Maddox told News 6. I came really close to dying, and our unborn son did die. The doctors told me I was lucky to be alive. Maddox, who was 20 weeks pregnant, and her two-year-old son were both hospitalized after ingesting the milk. The lawsuit states that her toddler drank raw, unpasteurized milk from the New Smyrna Beach farmallegedly contaminated with E. coli and Campylobacterand Maddox became ill after caring for him while he was sick. The Florida Department of Health recently linked 21 cases of E. coli and Campylobacter illnesses since January to Keely Farms Dairy, whose raw milk is labeled not for human consumption. Six of those cases involved children under 10, seven people were hospitalized, and two suffered severe complications. Maddoxs son developed nausea, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, chills, and dehydration, and was hospitalized for 10 days. Maddox soon developed similar symptoms and was hospitalized for 19 days. During her stay, she allegedly developed sepsis and suffered a miscarriage. Both Maddox and her son reportedly tested positive for the strain of Campylobacter linked to the farms raw milk. She said she was unaware of the dangers of raw milk. According to the lawsuit, she purchased the milk in June from Wild Hare Natural Market in Longwood. Although the product was labeled for animal consumption, she claims a store employee told her it was only a technical requirement to sell farm milk in Florida. The store is also named in the lawsuit. Maddox said several members of her family had been drinking the milk for months without issue until she and her son fell ill. She is now seeking damages for the physical and emotional suffering she has endured. Those who produce and sell raw milk know the extreme risk of bacterial infection and have a duty to warn consumers of the dangers, her attorney Ron Simon said in a statement. Keely Farms Dairy failed in that duty, and this outbreak is the result. In Florida, it is illegal to sell raw milk for human consumption, but not illegal for people to drink it if they choose. The lawsuit and state health warnings have impacted Keely Farms, which has denied wrongdoing and said it is being unfairly blamed. In a statement, the farm argued that the Department of Health made accusations without fully investigating or testing samples from the farm. Keely Farms Dairy has never been political. We just milk our cows, provide livestock feed, and serve our community, the farm said in a fundraiser appeal. We are being attacked after being linked to an outbreak without notification of an investigation or proof of an issue. The farm emphasized that its raw milk is legally sold as livestock feed, clearly labeled not for human consumption, and remains approved by the Department of Agriculture. The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund also criticized the Department of Healths handling of the situation, calling its actions unusual, confusing, and troubling. Keely Farms says it is cooperating with authorities as the case continues.   The post Woman sues dairy farm after raw milk she bought caused her miscarriage appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.