Dallas area media today reported on Mary Chiles’s salmonella illness (infected by consuming contaminated raw milk).  Poor timing for the raw milk movement, which has a branch driving hard in Texas for the legislature to pass a law that eases restrictions on raw milk sales.  Mary’s illness clearly occurred because the bacteria escaped her gastrointestinal tract–possibly through a small perforation in her intestines–and caused an infection in her bloodstream. 

“They said it would be a while before I got my strength back,” . . . Chiles is still weak after surviving a life-threatening salmonella infection. The bacteria, investigators said, came from a small glass of raw milk she drank nearly two months ago.

“It went directly to my blood,” she said. “I didn’t have vomiting or diarrhea, just a fever.”

Her fever reached 105 degrees.

“Everybody was just afraid,” Chiles said. “It was just unbelievable.”

Chiles said she tried the milk after a health-conscious friend told her the all-natural, unpasteurized beverage might improve her health.

Chiles’s milk came from Lavon Farms in Plano, Texas.  The farm is reportedly prohibited from further distributing its raw milk products, pending tests on its products.  Chiles’s illness, and a number of other recent illnesses amongst Texas restaurant, have the Texas Medical Association and the Dallas County Health Department to speak out about the pending legislation: “We’re going to go with the CDC recommendations that individuals not partake of this milk,” said Zachary Thompson, the director of the Dallas County Health Department.

See www.realrawmilkfacts.com for more raw milk information.  The product caused at least 14 outbreaks or recalls last year.