The Pride & Joy Creamery of Granger, Washington is recalling raw milk sold at numerous retail outlets due to potential contamination with E. coli.  While the strain of E. coli has not yet been identified, it is presumably E. coli O157:H7, which is most commonly tested for.   According to a news report, Washington State Department of Agriculture investigators discovered the E. coli bacteria during a routine sampling at Pride & Joy.

The raw milk was sold in King, Pierce, Snohomish and Skagit counties, in gallon, half-gallon, and quart sizes.   The milk bears an expiration date of either September 30 or September 31, 2011.

The retail outlets include:

Sno-isle in Everett, Truhealth in Bothell/Everett, Marlene’s Market in Tacoma, Marlene’s Market in Federal Way, Skagit Valley Food in Mt. Vernon, Manna Mills in Mountlake Terrace, Madison Market in Seattle, Nature’s Market in Kent and Sunshine Corner Nutrition in Kent.

Raw milk products have a long history of association with foodpoisoning illnesses, most commonly E. coli O157:H7, campylobacter, salmonella, and listeria.  There have been previous outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 in Washington state linked to raw milk, including one at Dee Creek Farms in 2005.

Consumers can visit gather more information about raw milk at www.realrawmilkfacts.com.