Cheese made with raw-milk has been drawing the wrong kind of attention lately. This past week, at least 25 E. coli O157:H7 infections in the Southwest have been linked to Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda cheese. Previously, the ongoing debate concerning raw-milk and raw dairy products had been stoked once again following a listeria incident at Estrella cheese in Washington state. Lynne Terry of the Oregonian contributed a more in depth look at some of the public health, regulatory, culinary, and economic issues involving raw-milk cheeses.
Terry reports on the FDA's recent enforcement actions at the Estrella dairy, and the Morningland Dairy in Missouri, involving reports of positive test results for listeria in raw-milk cheeses. As is nearly always the case where raw-milk is involved, those opposed to the actions perceive an unfair scrutiny by government officials.
Though intended to protect public health, that action fired up fears of some customers and food bloggers of an FDA crackdown on raw-milk products.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Food Poison Journal.