California lifts restriction on dairys raw-cream marketing

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) today lifted sales restrictions on raw cream from a <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:state> organic dairy after testing additional samples and finding that bacteria coliform levels

CDFA degraded raw cream sales from Organic Pastures Dairy, near <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kerman</st1:place></st1:city>. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Calif.</st1:state></st1:place>, March 3 after tests revealed coliform measuring 60 bacteria per milliliter (mL) and 62 bacteria/mL in the dairy's raw cream samples. Finished raw milk must test at no more than 10 bacteria/mL under a <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state></st1:place> law that took effect in January. That is the same limit for pasteurized milk.

"CDFA is required by law to institute immediate restricted use of a market milk product whenever a bacterial standard, including coliform determinations, is violated by three of the last five regulatory tests," CDFA spokesman Steve Lyle said.