Owners of dairy plead guilty to selling milk that caused E. coli outbreak

The owners of a Cowlitz County dairy farm pleaded guilty today to distribution of adulterated food in connection with a December 2005 E. coli outbreak.

Michael and Anita Puckett face up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine when sentenced for the misdemeanor on Sept. 5.

According to the U.S. attorney's office, unpasteurized milk was obtained from Dee Creek Farm cows in 2005 and stored in a manner that did not meet the sanitary requirements for a license from the state Department of Agriculture. Eighteen people were sickened in Washington and Oregon by the milk.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, three children were hospitalized with renal failure — one for a month. Some may have suffered permanent kidney damage.

Inspectors with the Department of Agriculture found that the cow holding area and entrance to the barn were deep in mud and manure. The rubber mats on the dirt floor of the milking area were coated with mud, manure and hay. There was no running water in the barn or other hand-washing facilities. Dee Creek Farm could show no evidence that their well had been tested for bacteria, a requirement for a licensed dairy, the U.S. attorney's office said.

Most states prohibit the direct sale of raw, or unpasteurized, milk unless the seller is licensed by the state to sell it. Dee Creek was not have a license to sell unpasteurized milk.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com