An updated report by the California Department of Public Health found that the number of people infected with salmonella during a 2023-2024 outbreak in raw milk from a Fresno County dairy was much higher than initially reported.

The outbreak originated in San Diego County on Oct. 18, 2023, with eight cases of salmonellosis from people who drank raw milk. But as epidemiologists tracked the illnesses and its source, the number of cases grew.

Over the course of several months, state and federal investigators linked the outbreak to Raw Farm LLC in Fresno County, the nation’s leading supplier of raw milk and other dairy products. It’s the same company whose raw milk this fall has been linked to avian flu cases in human and pets.

The state’s report, released on Oct. 15, reveals the breadth of the salmonella outbreak. Spanning from Oct. 18, 2023, through May 4, 2024, the report cited 171 cases — 159 confirmed and 12 probable — of salmonella infections in five states: California, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington.

According to the state report, the illness onset dates ranged from Sept. 21, 2023, through March 11, 2024, with most cases in the Los Angeles and San Diego area. There were also several cases in the San Joaquin Valley, including four in Stanislaus County, three in Fresno County, two in Kings County, two in Madera County and two in San Joaquin County.

Response from Raw Farms and lawsuits

Mark McAfee, who founded the family run dairy in 1998, has acknowledged that some of his milk was the culprit behind the 2023 outbreak.

“That is absolutely true,” McAfee told The Bee. “We found the cow with salmonella — we are not denying that — and we got rid of it.”

McAfee said since then he installed specialized equipment that detects pathogens, such as salmonella, at very low levels.

“And,” he said, “we have not had a problem since.”

But the consequences of that outbreak still linger in the form of 12 lawsuits filed by victims who were made sick from the milk.

Bill Marler, a personal injury lawyer specializing in foodborne illnesses, said his clients have endured visits to the emergency rooms and have suffered from painful cramps, fever, bloody diarrhea, vomiting and headaches.

One of his clients amassed more than $170,000 in medical bills as a result of being treated for salmonella. Others still have bowel issues, months after they got sick. And two of his clients were in the hospital for a week and a half, he said.

McAfee isn’t opposed to compensating people who were made sick from the milk, but he said he thinks some of the claims are exaggerated.

“Bill Marler makes a lot of money on sick people,” McAfee said. “The demand being made on some of these cases is outrageous.”

Marler denies his claims are out of line.

Customers still loyal to dairy

Despite the lawsuits and recalls, Raw Farms customers remain fiercely loyal to the dairy and will continue to consume its products.

Many of the dairy supporters have flooded their social media pages with messages of support.

Instagram user blissful.bites.by.hillori wrote: “(As) a raw milk drinker and promoter of health, let’s shine some light on what government agencies are doing to raw milk farmers!!”

For the moment, the dairy is under quarantine and can not produce any raw milk or cream products.

The dairies products have tested positive for bird flu at both retail and dairy storage and bottling sites in recent days

The bird flu has been found in roughly half of the state’s 1,100 dairy farms.

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© 2024 The Fresno Bee

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