SC dairy defends its raw milk after NC illnesses

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The owner of a South Carolina dairy is defending the raw milk she sells to consumers despite officials blaming the product for multiple illnesses in North Carolina.

Carolyn Adkins says Tucker Adkins Dairy of York, S.C., has never failed an inspection in its nearly seven years of doing business. She says she has paid for an independent test of her cows’ milk to make sure it’s safe.

This week, federal and North Carolina health officials said they believe eight cases of bacterial illness can be traced to raw milk from the dairy. One of the individuals was hospitalized. The federal Food and Drug Administration is investigating.

It’s illegal to sell raw milk for human consumption in North Carolina, but not in South Carolina.