A Florida mother is suing a dairy farm after allegedly becoming severely ill from one of its products and losing her unborn baby as a result.
Rachel Maddox, of Seminole County, has claimed that raw milk from Keely Farms Dairy gave her a dire bacterial infection that led to her having a miscarriage.
‘I became very ill and I mean the sickest I’ve ever been in my life,’ Maddox told News 6. ‘I came really close to dying and our [unborn] son did die. The doctors told me that I was lucky to be alive.’
Maddox, who was 20 weeks pregnant, and her two-year-old son were both hospitalized after ingesting the dairy product.
The toddler drank the raw and unpasteurized milk from the New Smyrna Beach farm – which allegedly contained E. coli and Campylobacter – and Maddox became ill from taking care of him while he was sick, the lawsuit states.
Last week, the Florida Department of Health linked 21 cases of E. coli and Campylobacter illnesses since January to the Keely Farms product, which is labeled ‘not for human consumption.’
Six of those victims were children under 10 and seven people had to be hospitalized. Two of those cases involved extreme complications.
Rachel Maddox (pictured), of Seminole County, has claimed that raw milk from Keely Farms Dairy gave her a dire bacterial infection that led to her having a miscarriage
Keely Farms Dairy raw milk (pictured) was linked to 21 illnesses by the Florida Department of Health last week
Keely Farms Dairy (pictured) said the Department of Health did not properly investigate the situation
Maddox’s lawsuit, which was filed in Seminole County on Wednesday, claims the milk her toddler drank contained both E. coli and Campylobacter.
While Maddox never drank the milk herself, she claimed she became ill after caring for her son, who was infected with the bacteria.
Her child became sick first and developed ‘nausea, fever, diarrhea, abdomen pain, chills, and dehydration,’ according to a press release from Ron Simon & Associates, one of the firms representing Maddox.
He ended up in the hospital for 10 days. The horrified then-pregnant mother soon started experiencing those symptoms as well.
She was hospitalized for 19 days. During that time, she allegedly developed sepsis and had a miscarriage.
Maddox and her son allegedly both tested positive for the strain of Campylobacter linked to contaminated Keely Farms Dairy raw milk.
The devastated mom claimed she had no idea raw milk was dangerous for humans to drink.
She purchased the allegedly bacteria-ridden product in June from a natural food store, Wild Hare Natural Market in Longwood, according to the filing.
Keely Farms Dairy raw milk is not meant for human consumption, as indicated on its label (pictured)
Maddox said she lost her 20-week-old fetus after suffering extreme complications from the bacterial infection (pictured: her and her husband place flowers where they buried the unborn baby)
Maddox allegedly asked someone at the store about the product label that read ‘something to the effect [of] “for consumption by animals,”‘ she was told that was just a ‘technical requirement’ to sell farm milk in Florida.
Wild Hare Natural Market is also named in the lawsuit, News 6 reported.
She told the outlet she bought the milk for many months and several people in her family had been drinking it, although she had not consumed it.
No one had any problems until she and her son were hospitalized, she claimed.
Now, Maddox is demanding damages for the physical and emotional distress she has suffered.
‘Those who produce and sell raw milk and other unpasteurized dairy products know the extreme risk of bacterial infection to those who consume it, and have a duty to follow strict sanitary guidelines to prevent contamination,’ Simon said in a statement.
‘They also have a duty to fully warn their customers of the inherent risks of consuming raw milk.
‘Keely Farms Dairy met neither of these requirements, and this outbreak is the result.’
In Florida, it is illegal to sell unpasteurized and raw milk for human consumption. But it is not illegal for people to drink it if they choose.
Maddox (pictured) was allegedly hospitalized for a total of 19 days after getting sick while caring for her toddler
In an X post about the 21 illnesses, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo wrote: ‘Floridians have the freedom to make informed health choices.
‘I support the decision to consume raw milk when sought for potential health benefits and protective factors. Be aware of your source and know the risks.’
Maddox’s lawsuit and the Florida Department of Health’s warning have caused Keely Farms to suffer, with the small business claiming they are being painted in a false light.
The farm has claimed the department made public accusations about its products ‘without taking action to fully investigate their operations or test milk samples from the farm,’ according to a press release.
‘Keely Farms Dairy has never been political. We just milk our cows, provide livestock feed, and serve as upstanding members of our community,’ a GoFundMe created by the farm reads.
‘But we are being attacked by the news media after being “linked” by the Florida Department of Health to an “outbreak” of two different bacteria spanning 8 months’ time without any notification of an investigation or proof of an issue.’
The farm said the department has not shut down their farm and the Department of Agriculture recently visited the site and reapproved its labels.
‘We continue to sell raw milk as livestock feed. It is legally licensed and labeled “not for human consumption” under state law, and is not sold for human consumption,’ the fundraiser page reads.
Maddox (pictured) claimed she was told the warning label on the milk was only a ‘technical requirement’
Wild Hare Natural Market (pictured), where the milk was allegedly bought, is also named in the lawsuit
These allegedly false claims made against Keely Farms has caused the business to lose customers and for sales to plummet.
‘The Florida Department of Health’s actions are unusual, confusing, and frankly troubling,’ Alexia Kulwiec, executive director of Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF) said.
‘If the Department had evidence that Keely Farms Dairy sold contaminated raw milk for livestock feed, it would be taking serious action against the farm.’
Keely Farms is cooperating with the Department of Health, and the ‘FTCLDF will continue to monitor and assist with this situation.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to Simon, Wild Hare Natural Market, Keely Farms Dairy and the Florida Department of Health for comment.
