ET TU, BRUCELLOSIS Julius Caesar was warned to take great care on the Ides of March. On that day, Rome's illustrious emperor was stabbed in the back by his best friend, Brutus. From that time forward, the world's calendars became totally messed up. The seventh month of the year, Sept-ember was replaced and named after Caesar, and the seventh month then became the ninth month, and the eighth month (0ct-ober) became the tenth, but all that's history, so let's just talk about milk. Today is the 15th day (the Ides) of June. Yesterday began a major ongoing milk recall in California. Tests show that every variety of milk sold under the names Berkeley Farms, Dairy Dawn, Ralphs, Mountain Dairy, Sysco (Wholesome Farms), Smart & Final, Albertsons, Good Day, and Best Yet may be tainted with unsafe levels of powerful antibiotics. Berkeley Farms is owned by Dean Foods, the largest dairy processor in America, larger than even Kraft. I spoke with Ray McCoy in the quality assurance department at the parent company, Dean Foods (214-303-3400). McCoy informed me that Berkeley Farms had performed screening tests on milk samples and although he had no quantitative numbers to offer, he did say that they detected indications ("betalactums") of antimicrobial contamination. McCoy promised to get back to me with details. I left him my home telephone number. He did not get back to me. Why must cows be medicated? Is the antidote more dangerous than the poison? BEWARE, THE IDES OF JUNE Mad Cow Disease stabbed Britain right in the gut, and cases have been diagnosed throughout Europe, Asia, and even North America (Canada). Nearly 100 young people have died in England from this brain-wasting ailment that is passed from cows to humans. Hoof and Mouth Disease delivered a second thrust. Millions of animals had to be slaughtered because of a plague that spread like a wind-blown fire, a disease that rarely infects humans. Two hundred thousand animals actually caught Hoof and Mouth Disease in Britain. The third wound was anthrax, delivered with a serrated blade that terrified the United States. America's anthrax epidemic became a non-story, as USDA magnificently placed their veil upon truth so that Americans could eat their meat with peace of mind. This terror was quarantined, and over one million pounds of suspect beef was quietly recalled, just a few weeks before the nightmare of 9/11. The fourth knife wound required emergency USDA surgery, and government bureaucrats again came to the rescue, keeping an enormous story relatively quiet, so that most Americans are not even aware of the quarantined cows with tuberculosis on a California dairy farm. Sixteen workers from that farm have tested positive for tuberculosis. All drank milk directly from those cows, but California health officials deny that they caught TB from those animals. The owner of the farm is still being allowed to ship milk from his diseased bovines, and that milk is being sold for human consumption. Now, comes a fifth stab wound. Et tu, Brucellosis. Brucellosis in cattle can be passed on to man in the form of Mediterranean Disease or Undulant fever. This disease is difficult to detect, and easily misdiagnosed. The symptoms include chronic fatigue (syndrome), headaches, and arthritic pain. Once infected with Brucellosis from cows, the disease can hide in the human body, emerging many years after the initial infection. Brucellosis has been detected in a dairy herd in Idaho. Six cows have tested positive. The United States Department of Agriculture actually has a Brucellosis program, and a set of standards. Under government regulations, states are allowed to identify infected herds, and retain their "Brucellosis Class Free designations." Who is being protected? Before taking your next bite of cheese, carefully read this information from page 222 of Mad Cows and Milk Gate by Virgil Hulse, M.D.: "The following groups of pathogens can be involved in manufacturing cheese made from raw milk: TB (mycobacterium paratuber-culosis, Undulant fever (Brucella species), Disease producing Strep (Pathogenic streptococci), staph food poisoning (Coagulase positive sttaphylocci), staph arrhea that may lead to death (Entero-pathogenic Eschererichia coli), Salmonella, Rickettsia, Virus species, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium botulinum (can be fatal and cause death)." Et tu, Brucellosis. Beware the Ides of June. Is it any wonder that Berkeley has issued a recall for antibiotics in milk? If comedy can be found in tragedy, it exists in this line from Berkeley's emergency press release: "Antibiotics are sometimes used to treat dairy cows as part of their health maintenance program." Sometimes? Health maintenance? You can call Berkeley Farms at 888-647-3326. __________________________________________________ Robert Cohen author of: MILK A-Z Executive Director (notmilkman@notmilk.com) Dairy Education Board http://www.notmilk.com This file: http://www.notmilk.com/forum/941.txt Do you know of a friend or family member with one or more of these milk-related problems? Do them a huge favor and forward the URL or this entire file to them. Do you know of someone who should read these newsletters? If so, have them send a empty Email to: notmilk-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and they will receive it (automatically)!