KAILUA-KONA — The state Department of Health issued a cease and desist order to Meadow Gold Dairies on Monday, instructing the company to halt the distribution and sale of its 2 percent reduced fat milk after several lab tests revealed consistently elevated levels of coliform bacteria.
DOH testing conducted on milk samples from Meadow Gold Dairies on Jan. 19 and Feb. 6 and 22 all revealed coliform levels exceeding acceptable standards by more than 1,000 percent.
The tests showed bacteria levels of more than 150 per milliliter, 130 per milliliter and more than 150 per milliliter on the three dates in question, respectively. The maximum levels allowed for pasteurized milk that still meets national standards is 10/ml, according to a DOH release.
“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 Peter Oshiro, program manager of the DOH Sanitation Branch, in the release.
Meadow Gold sells milk under several labels at food outlets throughout the state, including TruMoo, DairyPure and Milk Life.
Oshiro said all Meadow Gold 2 percent milk products featuring the plant number 15-01 came from the production center in question. Meadow Gold 2 percent chocolate milk, however, is considered an entirely different product and its distribution was halted.
Cease and desist orders are implemented by the DOH when a product fails to meet national standards on any three samples during a five-month period, Oshiro said. He added that no recall was issued, and those who bought the milk recently can continue to drink it if they choose.
“This is not a recall issue, this is a quality control issue,” Oshiro explained in an interview Monday.
State Department of Education communications specialist Lindsay Chambers said the DOE contracts with Meadow Gold to supply milk to its public schools but does not serve 2 percent milk. Instead, the DOE serves only 1 percent, skim and skim chocolate milk.
“We’re in touch with them, but it doesn’t impact what we use,” Chambers said.
According to the DOH release, Meadow Gold Dairies 2 percent reduced fat milk will be subject to additional testing and must meet health safety standards before the company can put it back on the market.
As of Monday night, some stores in the Kona area still had the product on their shelves.
Email Max Dible at mdible@westhawaiitoday.com.
