CDFA LIFTS QUARANTINE OF CLARAVALE FARM RAW MILK PRODUCTS

SACRAMENTO, March  29, 2012–  State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Whiteford today lifted a statewide quarantine on raw whole milk, raw skim milk and raw cream produced by Claravale Farm of San Benito County.  Claravale Farm has met state sanitation requirements and food safety regulations to clear its production, processing and packaging operations.
 
On March 23, CDFA issued a recall and quarantine hold of Claravale Farm products following the detection of campylobacter bacteria in raw cream. To date, no illnesses have been definitively attributed to Claravale Farm products; however, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is still conducting an epidemiological investigation of reported clusters of campylobacter illness where consumption of raw milk products may have occurred.
 
According to CDPH, symptoms of campylobacteriosis include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. Most people with campylobacteriosis recover completely. Illness usually occurs 2 to 5 days after exposure to campylobacter and lasts about a week. The illness is usually mild and some people with campylobacteriosis have no symptoms at all. However, in some persons with compromised immune systems, it can cause a serious, life-threatening infection.

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