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Florida Probes Orlando Dairy After Black Milk Complaints

Photo from Kristi Whitford

The state has received three complaints from residents about the milk, a spokesman for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says.

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 8, 2008

TAMPA - State agriculture inspectors will check an Orlando dairy this week that was the source of milk that left blackish stains inside containers.

The state has received three complaints from residents about the milk, said Terry McElroy, spokesman for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which regulates dairies.

The one sample state inspectors were able to test showed the milk had gone bad. As the milk fat separated, it left the blackish stain on the container, McElroy said.

"There was no indication the product was adulterated," McElroy said.

Inspectors also found the refrigerator at the house where they tested the milk had been set too warm, allowing the milk to spoil.

Still, the department plans to send inspectors to the T.G. Lee dairy in Orlando, source of the milk in all three complaints. The milk was purchased at several grocery stores under store brand labels.

Representatives from the dairy did not respond to repeated messages for comment.

McElroy said the state tested only one sample because one resident threw the milk away and another refused to give inspectors the container.

The dairy ran its own inspection and told regulators no problems turned up, McElroy said.

Cynthia Crosan bought some of the milk in the middle of September in Manatee County and roughly a week later saw the stain. At first, she thought it was on the outside of the container but couldn't wipe it off, she said.

"I'd been getting sick and didn't know why. Then we noticed the black striations on the jug," Crosan said.

"Within a day or two, the entire inside of the bottle turned black."

Crosan said she went to the hospital and was diagnosed with food poisoning.

Stephanie Sherwood of Mulberry also had some skim milk that turned the gray and black color. It made her 2-year-old daughter sick.

She also bought the milk around the middle of September and noticed the stain three days before the milk's expiration date.

"It looked like the color of pencil lead," Sherwood said.

She did not file a complaint with the state.

McElroy said at this point officials believe these are isolated incidents and not something widespread.

"We're not dismissing it. We're not able to ascertain where the problem is. We'll conduct a full inspection of the dairy this week," he said.

Anyone who believes they had milk turn color can call the state at 1-800-435-7352 and ask for the Food Safety or Dairy divisions.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731 or njohnson@tampatrib.com.

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