San Diego County Milk Product Recall In Effect

SAN DIEGO -- First spinach and now tainted milk has infected people with E. coli bacteria, including two San Diego County children, prompting a recall Friday of some milk products, health officials said.

A boy and girl, both 8, became sick after drinking unpasteurized milk produced by Organic Pastures, a Fresno County dairy, according to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.

A 7-year-old Riverside County boy and a 10-year-old girl in San Bernardino County also got sick after drinking the contaminated milk.

The state Friday ordered all Organic Pastures whole and skim raw milk to be pulled immediately from stores and consumers were encouraged to throw away any of the milk in their refrigerators. The recall order also affects raw cream and raw colostrum made by the dairy.

The milk scare comes amid a massive spinach recall. Dozens of people across the country have become ill, and at least one has died, after eating spinach contaminated with E. coli. That outbreak has also been traced central California, where much of the nation's spinach is grown.

People are being told not to eat fresh spinach until further notice.

Organic Pastures has been prohibited from producing raw milk for the retail market until further notice, officials said.

Residents who see raw milk products by Organic Pastures on store shelves were asked to notify the DEH at 619-338-2379.

The latest E. coli outbreak was limited to raw, or unpasteurized dairy products, county health officials said. Most milk consumed in California is pasteurized, which reduces the risk of getting a bacterial illness.

Symptoms of an E. coli infection include abdominal cramps and bloody diarrhea, according to the HHSA. There is usually little or no fever, and the illness typically goes away in five to 10 days.

A small percentage of those infected with the bacteria may also develop hemolytic uremic syndrome, a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed and kidney failure may occur, officials said.

Those most at risk for serious complications of the food-borne illness include young children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

Consumers were told to seek immediate medical care if they develop symptoms consistent with an E. coli bacteria infection.