Sick from E. coli?
Call (612) 337-6126
Elliot Olsen has represented people sickened by E. coli for decades, and he has regained millions of dollars for them. If you or a family member got sick after consuming raw milk from French Broad Farm, you should call Elliot at (612) 337-6126 for a free consultation.
Raw milk from French Broad Farm in Knoxville, TN, has been linked to as many as 10 cases of E. coli illnesses in young children.
The Knox County Health Department (KCHD) issued an E. coli alert as it investigates the cluster of cases. A spokesperson for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital said its doctors have treated nearly 10 children under the age of four, all of whom tested positive for E. coli in the past 10 days.
Most of the sickened children consumed raw milk from French Broad Farm, a local cow-share dairy, the KCHD said. Due to possible contamination with E. coli 0157 and out of an abundance of caution, the KCHD advises the public not to consume raw milk – or any other unpasteurized products – from French Broad Farm.
“Bacteria like E. coli cannot be seen with the naked eye,” KCHD director Dr. Martha Buchanan said. “For some perspective, roughly 1,800 can fit on the head of a pin, and it only takes about 10 to make you sick.”
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joe Childs said four children have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a deadly type of kidney disease, and are in intensive care. All four are on dialysis.
Childs said this is the largest E. coli outbreak he has experienced. “We’ll see sporadic cases – maybe two, three at a time – but this is way more than I’ve ever experienced before here,” he said.
Raw milk from French Broad Farm in Knoxville, TN, has been linked to as many as 10 cases of E. coli illnesses in young children. A spokesperson for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital said its doctors have treated nearly 10 children under the age of four, all of whom tested positive for E. coli in the past 10 days.
French Broad Farm:
Raw milk information
Drinking raw milk for its “health benefits” has become more popular in the 21st century. In reality, however, drinking raw milk greatly increases the risk of contracting a potentially serious foodborne illness – especially for young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with suppressed immune systems.
Raw milk is simply any milk that has not been pasteurized, a process in which the milk is heated to destroy dangerous microorganisms. (In the United States, raw milk is primarily produced by dairy cows, although it also can be produced by goats and sheep.)
Proponents of raw milk argue that consuming it prevents lactose intolerance, boosts the immune system, and can aid in the prevention of allergies. Those proponents also say that pasteurizing the milk can damage or destroy the milk’s nutrients and “good” bacteria. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – among other organizations – say there is no evidence to support those claims.
In fact, the CDC reported that between 1998 and 2011, almost 2,400 Americans were sickened in 148 outbreaks of food poisoning caused by the consumption of raw milk or cheese made with raw milk. Of those people affected, 284 were hospitalized, and two died. In addition, of the 104 outbreaks in which patients’ ages were included, more than 80 percent involved at least one person younger than 20.
French Broad Farm:
E. coli information
E. coli (Escherichia coli) are bacteria that typically live in the intestines of humans and some mammals. Most strains of E. coli are harmless; they help keep your digestive tract healthy. Some strains, however, can cause serious illness.
Some strains of E. coli make you sick by producing a toxin called Shiga, which damages the intestinal lining. The strains of E. coli that cause the toxin are sometimes called STEC, which is short for “Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.”
The most dangerous strain of STEC E. coli is E. coli O157, the strain responsible for this outbreak. It can cause prolonged diarrhea that can eventually become kidney failure, and even result in death.
Other symptoms of STEC E. coli include:
- abdominal cramps
- nausea
- constant fatigue
- fever
- confusion
- seizures.
French Broad Farm:
HUS information
A severe complication associated with E. coli infection is hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS produces toxic substances that destroy red blood cells, causing kidney injury. A HUS infection can often result in the need for kidney dialysis and blood transfusions.
HUS is the leading cause of acute kidney failure in infants and young children. Adolescents and adults are also susceptible, as are the elderly, who often die from the disease.
