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Last updated: April 4, 2024
Overview
In mid-January and early-February 2024, 2 Washington residents in different counties were infected with the same, highly related strain of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli or “STEC.” Both drank raw milk produced by Cozy Vale Creamery (Tenino, WA) shortly before becoming ill.
Raw milk is considered a high-risk food for STEC infection because it is not heat treated (pasteurized) to kill germs that can make people sick. STEC bacteria (and other bacteria) can naturally be in cattle manure which can contaminate milk during production.
On February 16, 2024, Cozy Vale Creamery in Tenino, WA announced a recall of raw milk and cream because of contamination with STEC. The STEC bacteria found in the milk was a different strain than the one that caused the two recent illnesses in Washington residents. At this time, there are no known illnesses associated with the strain found in the milk products.
Update March 19, 2024:
On March 18, 2024, Cozy Vale Creamery announced another recall of raw milk and cream because STEC was found in an additional sample. The strain of STEC found in the new positive sample is not the STEC strain that caused the two recent illnesses in Washington residents. At this time, there are no known illnesses associated with the STEC found in the Cozy Vale milk and cream products.
Update April 3, 2024:
On March 10, another Washington resident was diagnosed with STEC infection and reported that they drank Cozy Vale Creamery milk during their exposure period. On April 2, 2024, we determined that the STEC organism this person was infected with is closely related to the STEC organism found in the Cozy Vale Creamery sample that spurred the March 18, 2024 recall.
Washington State Case Information
Washington residents from three counties have been included in this outbreak including Grays Harbor (1) Pierce (1) and Thurston (1).
Recalled Products
Cozy Vale Creamery raw milk and cream products with best by dates of 2/18/24 through 2/29/24. These products were bottled in gallon, half-gallon, quart, and pint containers and sold in Western Washington.
Local health partners visited the retail stores that sold the raw milk and ensured all locations had removed the recalled products from sale.
Update March 19, 2024:
Cozy Vale Creamery raw milk and cream products with best by dates of 3/18/2024 to 3/28/2024 were recalled on 3/18/2024. These products were sold in gallon, half-gallon, quart, and pint containers in Western Washington.
The investigation is ongoing, and we may identify additional links to products as we continue to gather information from new cases. DOH will provide updates as the investigation progresses.
Cozy Vale Creamery recall notice, WSDA
Food Recalls and Safety Alerts, DOH
Advice to Consumers
- If you have the recalled Cozy Vale Creamery products at home, do not drink or use them and throw them away Alternatively, you may return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.
- E. coli infections can cause serious complications. Symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps and blood in the stool.
- If you notice symptoms, especially bloody diarrhea, contact your health care provider right away.
Advice to Retailers
- Do not sell or serve the recalled product.
- Wash and sanitize items and surfaces that may have come in contact with these products.
About Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC)
E. coli bacteria normally live in the intestines of humans and animals. Many strains of E. coli bacteria exist, and most of them are harmless or beneficial to human health. STEC are strains of E. coli that produce Shiga toxin (such as E. coli O157:H7) and can cause serious illness in people.
Symptoms of E. coli Infection
People usually get sick from Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) 2 to 8 days (average of 3 to 4 days) after swallowing the germ. Symptoms often include:
- Severe stomach cramps
- Diarrhea (often bloody)
- Vomiting
- Low grade fever (less than 101ºF/38.5ºC)
Some people with a STEC infection may get a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Symptoms of HUS include decreased urine production, dark or tea-colored urine, and losing pink color in cheeks and inside the lower eyelids.
Prevention
- Avoid eating high-risk foods, especially undercooked ground beef, unpasteurized milk or juice, soft cheeses made from unpasteurized milk, or sprouts.
- Use a food thermometer to make sure that ground beef has reached a safe internal temperature of 160° F.
- Thoroughly wash fresh produce before eating.
- Wash hands before, during, and after preparing food, after diapering infants, and after contact with cows, sheep, or goats, their food or treats, or their living environment.
Public Health Partners
DOH works closely with local health jurisdictions to collect data from interviews of sick individuals to help identify common exposures between the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and other partner agencies on this type of outbreak investigation.
The investigation process can be long and complex. Only those who are severely ill tend to visit a healthcare provider and get tested, and each step of the process takes time.
Sometimes people don’t get sick until several days after they eat food containing E. coli bacteria. It can take a lot of time and effort to test samples from people who are ill, interview them for a detailed history of foods they’ve eaten and look for commonalities between cases.
More Resources
Cozy Vale Creamery Recall Notice, February 20, 2024, WSDA
Washington DOH Food Recalls and Safety Alerts