Woman files lawsuit against dairy farm over claim that drinking raw milk 'led to miscarriage'
Topics: Parenting, Food and Drink, Florida, US News
Dan Seddon
Featured Image Credit: WKMG
Topics: Parenting, Food and Drink, Florida, US News
Florida resident Rachel Maddox believes that consuming raw milk from a local dairy farm resulted in her suffering a miscarriage.
In a News 6 report, it's been revealed that the mother from Seminole County developed a serious bacterial infection when she was 20 weeks pregnant after her toddler came down with abdomen pain, fever, diarrhoea, and dehydration before being hospitalised for 10 days.
The two-year-old boy drank raw and unpasteurised Keely Farms Dairy milk from Wild Hare Natural Market, which is advertised as suitable for animals only.
Rachel, who was effectively a second-hand victim in this case, became ill as she took care of the kid and ended up losing her unborn child - leading to a newly filed lawsuit claiming that the product contained E. coli and Campylobacter.
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"I contracted the bacteria from cleaning up the diarrhoea and vomiting," she told WKMG. "As a mom, you get a lot of stuff on you when your kid is sick, and I became ill by contracting the bacteria that way.
"I became very ill and I mean the sickest I've ever been in my life. I came really close to dying and our [unborn] son did die. The doctors told me that I was lucky to be alive."
Rachel's symptoms mirrored those of her young son, but her hospital stint was almost double the length as she dealt with sepsis.
The Florida Department of Health linked 21 cases of E. coli and Campylobacter to Keely Farms Dairy milk since January, with seven of those individuals needing hospital treatment.
Rachel and her boy allegedly tested positive for the strain of Campylobacter previously connected to the product.
According to her, when she bought the milk back in June, Rachel asked somebody at the shop about the milk's labelling - reading 'something to the effect of 'for consumption by animals'' - yet she was informed that this was just a 'technical requirement' to sell it in Florida.
Wild Hare Natural Market is therefore named in the lawsuit.
Rachel told News 6 that various people in her family had been drinking the milk without any health repercussions.
Now, the grieving mother is demanding damages for the physical and emotional distress she's contending with.
"Those who produce and sell raw milk and other unpasteurized dairy products know the extreme risk of bacterial infection to those who consume it, and have a duty to follow strict sanitary guidelines to prevent contamination," lawyer Ron Simon said.
"They also have a duty to fully warn their customers of the inherent risks of consuming raw milk. Keely Farms Dairy met neither of these requirements, and this outbreak is the result."
In Florida, it is illegal to sell unpasteurized and raw milk for human use, yet the law doesn't carry over to people who actually want to drink it.
Florida surgeon general Dr. Joseph Ladapo wrote on social media this week: "Floridians have the freedom to make informed health choices. I support the decision to consume raw milk when sought for potential health benefits and protective factors. Be aware of your source and know the risks."
When approached for comment, Wild Hare Natural Market told UNILAD: "Please note the label clearly states it's not for human consumption."
UNILAD has contacted Keely Farm Dairy for a comment.