Ind. dairy shows staph in cheese<br>
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Routine surveillance by the Indiana State Board of Animal Health’s (BOAH) Dairy Division revealed high levels of staphylococcus aureus (or “staph”) in several raw milk cheeses manufactured by Grassy Meadows dairy of Howe, Ind. Because of the facility’s location, consumers in Ohio and Michigan, as well as Indiana, should also check their refrigerators for these items.<br>
Products of concern include, but are not limited to: Colby (lot numbers 210317 and 19177), Jalapeno natural cheese (lot numbers 2617, 21017 and 11017), “Homemade” cheese (lot numbers 19267 and 19227), Monterey Jack (lot numbers 18207 and 2937) and garlic pepper cheese (lot number 19147). All are sold in wedges or blocks of various weights.<br>
Due to the nature of the manufacturing process for raw milk cheese, BOAH advises consumers not to eat any cheese from this facility purchased prior to Jan. 30, 2008. According to Terry Philibeck, director of BOAH Dairy Division, the agency has not yet been able to identify when the staph contamination began. Cheese purchased prior to January may be contaminated.<br>
Grassy Meadows products were sold directly to consumers from the dairy farm, located in LaGrange County, Ind., as well as more than a dozen retail health food stores in the Northeastern/Fort Wayne, Ind., region. BOAH is securing a complete list of retails outlets that carry this product.<br>
All the samples taken indicated higher-than-allowed levels of staph. No consumer illness or complaints have been reported. Staph infections can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, headache and muscle cramping. The greatest health risk is to the young, the old and those with compromised immune systems.<br>
The State Board of Animal Health is cooperating with the Indiana State Department of Health to update county health departments statewide as retail outlets are identified.<br>
Consumers should not eat these products, but return them to their place of purchase. For more information, contact BOAH at 317-227-0308.<br>
Iowa schools to stop using beef<br>
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Education has told the state’s school districts to stop using ground beef from a California company accused of mistreating cattle.<br>
Ground beef provided by Hallmark Meat Packing Co. likely was distributed to schools throughout Iowa as part of the USDA’s commodities program, said Elaine Watkins-Miller, a spokeswoman for the state Education Department. Since January 2007, the state has distributed about 8,000 cases, or 320,000 pounds of ground beef, supplied by Hallmark to the Westland Meat Co.<br>
The state is holding an additional 4,000 cases of meat from Westland at two warehouses in Des Moines and Mason City.
The Iowa action was in response to a USDA order, which barred any use of meat from the California slaughterhouse in federal food and nutrition programs. Federal officials said there was no immediate health risk, but the Chino, Calif.-based company could be in violation of rules designed to keep unhealthy animals out of the food supply.<br>
The Humane Society of the United States, which released a video showing inhumane treatment of cattle at the plant, said Iowa was among the top destinations for Westland beef, with the state ranking sixth. Of food served in Iowa school lunch programs, about 15 percent comes from the federal commodities program.<br>
52 cattle die in Iowa barn fire<br>

DURANGO, Iowa (AP) — More than 50 cattle were killed in a barn fire early in the morning of Jan. 29, officials said.<br>
Officials with the Dubuque County Sheriff’s office said firefighters found the barn near Durango engulfed in flames when they arrived. The cattle were trapped inside.<br>
The estimated loss is $250,000. The investigation into the cause of the fire is continuing.<br>