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State orders local dairy to halt sale of 2 percent milk

The Maui News – Meadow Gold Dairies was ordered by the state Health Department on Monday to stop distributing and selling its 2 percent reduced fat milk due to excessive coliform bacterial contamination.

The Health Department issued its cease and desist order after laboratory results from routine milk samples indicated bacterial contamination above standards.

“Milk production is regulated with routine testing both at the farm and after packaging to ensure a safe product,” said Peter Oshiro, program manager of the Health Department Sanitation Branch.

Samples of 2 percent reduced fat milk taken from Meadow Gold Dairies on Jan. 19, Feb. 6 and last Wednesday revealed excessive coliform counts of more than 150 per milliliter, 130/ml and 150/ml respectively, the Health Department news release said. The maximum allowed coliform for pasteurized milk is 10/ml. Coliform is used an indicator of post-pasteurization contamination.

“Department of Health inspectors will work with Meadow Gold Dairies to investigate the possible source of contamination, approve a plan of correction and conduct further testing to confirm the company meets the standards to resume 2 percent reduced fat milk distribution and sale,” said Oshiro.

To resume distribution and sale of 2 percent reduced fat milk, Meadow Gold Dairies must pass health inspections and undergo additional testing of product samples, the Health Department said.

All other milk products from Meadow Gold Dairies meet state and federal standards required for distribution and sale.

The Health Department conducts monthly testing of samples of all Grade A raw and pasteurized milk produced at dairy farms and milk plants in Hawaii. State law gives the Health Department the authority to suspend the distribution and sale of a particular milk product when the product is in violation of standards.

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