SEQUIM — The Dungeness Valley Creamery is back in business after a massive recall and closure due to an unusual contamination of its raw milk products.
But Fiddlehead the cow had to die.
Owners of the raw milk dairy at 1915 Towne Road in Sequim learned early Tuesday that they could resume sales and distribution of the farm’s raw milk following a voluntary recall on April 2 of all products with a “best by” date of April 13 or earlier and a complete halt in distribution of its products.
Illness reported
At least five people who had consumed the dairy’s raw milk were confirmed to have had campylobacteriosis, which can cause severe illness.
The pathogen was unusual. The dairy has had milk test positive for Escherichia coli (E. coli) several times in the past, but this was the first occasion that owners had seen contamination with Campylobacter.
In the end, the bacterium was traced to one cow, Ryan McCarthey, co-owner of the farm with his wife, Sarah, said in a text message Wednesday.
They “had to butcher her unfortunately,” he said.
Fiddlehead, also known as Number 67, was 2 years old and had her first calf this year, Ryan McCarthey said.
It was her first lactation.
Apparently campylobacter is in the udder; the cow does not get sick. Pasteurization kills the bacterium, McCarthey said, so it is seen only in raw milk products.
It is not known how the cow came to harbor the bacterium.
McCarthey wrote online that “after multiple rounds of sampling and working with (the Department of Agriculture), (Department of Health), and multiple industry experts including chemists and veterinarians we are excited to announce we are cleared to resume sales and distribution of our products.”
Resumes sales
Products are now available in the farm’s store. Regular deliveries began Wednesday, he said.
Health officials reported the milk was purchased in Clallam, Skagit, Kitsap and Clark counties.
Symptoms of Campylobacter infection include fever, diarrhea (often bloody), nausea, vomiting, malaise and abdominal pain.
Most people with Campylobacter infection recover on their own, but some need antibiotic treatment, the state reported.
In severe cases, complications may include reactive arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Infants, young children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with a weakened immune system are at greatest risk for severe illness, the state said.
McCarthey said in a previous interview the voluntary recall could cost more than $30,000 in lost sales.
“Thank you for your continued support and trust in us!” McCarthey wrote online.
For more information on the Dungeness Valley Creamery, visit dungeness valleycreamery.com.
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Peninsula Daily News Executive Editor Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3530 or at lleach@ peninsuladailynews.com.
Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him at mnash@sequimgazette.com.
