E. coli cases traced to raw milk from Minn. dairy

Minnesota Health Department officials are warning consumers about potential E. coli contamination in raw milk sold by the Hartmann Dairy farm in Gibbon.

The Health Department has linked three cases of E. coli illness to unpasteurized milk from the dairy farm. Health officials urge anyone who may have recently purchased milk from the business, which is also known as M.O.M.'s, to get rid of the product and not consume it.

The milk may be labeled organic and consumers may be unaware that the milk has not been pasteurized. In addition, consumers should not eat cheese, ice cream or other dairy products from the farm, which also may have been made from raw, unpasteurized milk.

Minnesota law prohibits most raw milk sales, except for occasional purchases directly at the farm where the milk is produced. There are a total of four cases of illness under investigation. Three of the four people were hospitalized as a result of their illness.