Avoid infection from raw milk
· The sale of raw milk for human consumption is illegal in Colorado , but people can still purchase a cow share to obtain it.
· Raw , or unpasteurized , milk is a suspected source for illness outbreaks in Colorado , Michigan and Utah.
· Unpasteurized milk can be dangerous , causing 81 illness outbreaks nationwide from 2007-2012.
o More than half of the outbreaks involved children younger than 5.
· If you drink raw milk you may ingest harmful bacteria such as E. coli , Campylobacter or Salmonella.
o The number of bacteria in raw milk is unpredictable , which makes it unsafe as it may cause serious , life-threatening illness.
· Pasteurized milk offers many health benefits without running the threat of infection because it has been heated to kill germs.
· Children , elderly people , pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems have the highest risk of becoming ill from drinking raw milk.
· If you drink raw milk and start to feel ill , contact your health care provider.
· Drink pasteurized milk to avoid illness.
Stay healthy this canning season
· It’s canning season in Mesa County. Are you doing everything you can to avoid getting sick?
· Between 1996 and 2008 , there were 116 outbreaks of foodborne botulism reported to the CDC. Thirty eight percent of those tied to home-prepared foods were linked to home-canned vegetables.
· Keep these tips in mind to avoid getting sick:
o Use a pressure canner or cooker and follow all specified home-canning processing times for safe home-canning of all foods.
§ Pay special attention to the processing times for low-acid vegetables , like green beans , carrots and corn.
o Boil home-processed , low-acid canned foods for 10 minutes before serving.
§ For higher altitudes , add one minute for each 1 ,000 feet of elevation.
o Home-canned food might be contaminated if:
§ The container is leaking , bulging or swollen.
§ The container looks damaged , cracked or abnormal.
§ The container spurts liquid or foam when opened.
§ The food is discolored , moldy or smells bad.
o Never taste home-canned foods to determine if they are safe.
o Discard all swollen , gassy or spoiled canned foods.
§ Use rubber gloves and place the food or can in a sealable bag , then wrap another plastic bag around the sealed bag and tape it shut.
§ Place bags in a trash receptacle for non-recyclable trash outside of the home , away from humans and pets.
§ Wash your hands with soap and running water for at least two minutes after handling food or containers that may be contaminated.
· Remember , when in doubt , throw it out!
