MARS, Pa.,None — A 67-year-old man from Mars, Pa., is on life support at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, and his family is convinced it's because of the raw milk he consumed more than a month ago.
"I heard about all the health benefits," said the man's wife, Maureen Orchard. "We thought we were doing something good for ourselves."
James Orchard was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. Except for minimal head and eye movement, Orchard is totally paralyzed.
Several days before the onset of his illness, Orchard and other members of his family consumed raw milk purchased at the McGinnis Sisters Special Foods Store. The raw milk was produced by Dean Farms doing business as Pasture Maid, LLC, a creamery located in New Castle.
Orchard's daughter also fell ill.
"She was the one that made the connection that it was the milk. She stopped drinking it and we got better," Orchard said.
Milk from the bottles produced by Dean Farms purchased at the McGinnis Sisters store tested positive for Campylobacter bacteria. Many people who develop Guillain-Barré syndrome first had a Campylobacter infection.
Since the positive tests, Dean Farms has had its license pulled and is no longer allowed to sell raw milk.
Orchard said she believes the agricultural department needs to do a better job of testing and warning consumers about the risks.
"I don't necessarily want to stop the selling of raw milk, but I think some information needs to be out there so people make some wise choices," she said.
Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized. Pasteurization, a "kill step," destroys pathogens like Campylobacter.
Doctors said Orchard's condition is treatable.
"They can't give me a time line because everybody's different of how long this will take or how much physical therapy he's going to need," Orchard said.
A spokesperson for the agriculture department told Channel 11 News he does not recommend consuming raw milk, but right now there are 129 production permits in the state.
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