Judge: Minn. farmer's raw milk caused outbreak

HASTINGS, Minn. (AP) - A judge has ordered the destruction of

state-embargoed food products from a southern Minnesota dairy farm

linked to an E. coli outbreak.

District Judge Rex Stacey says he has "no doubt" that products

from Michael Hartmann's farm near Gibbon caused the outbreak that

sickened eight people last spring.

State investigators found the same strain of E. coli in both the

victims and on the Hartmann farm. Hartmann maintained that his

unpasteurized milk has not sickened anyone.

After the outbreak, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture

prohibited Hartmann from selling the raw milk, cheese and yogurt he

had in storage. Hartmann challenged the order in court.

The judge ruled the food be destroyed within 30 days. Hartmann's

attorney, Zenas Baer, tells Minnesota Public Radio News Hartmann

will cooperate with the court order.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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