Tainted cheese fuels TB rise in California

MSNBC ^ | June 6, 2008 | JoNel Aleccia

[PROCON]

A rare form of tuberculosis caused by illegal, unpasteurized dairy products, including the popular queso fresco cheese, is rising among Hispanic immigrants in Southern California and raising fears about a resurgence of a strain all but eradicated in the U.S.

Cases of the Mycobacterium bovis strain of TB have increased in San Diego county, particularly among children who drink or eat dairy foods made from the milk of infected cattle, a study in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases shows.

But the germ can infect anyone who eats contaminated fresh cheeses sold by street vendors, smuggled across the Mexican border or produced by families who try to make a living selling so-called “bathtub cheese” made in home tubs and backyard troughs.

[PROCON]

“It is NOT a disease you are very likely to get from a foreign-born person,”

I'm skeptical!

[Slapshot68]

"A rare form of tuberculosis caused by illegal, unpasteurized dairy products, including the popular queso fresco cheese, is rising among Hispanic ILLEGAL immigrants in Southern California and raising fears about a resurgence of a strain all but eradicated in the U.S." Fixed.

[vaudine]

Not to worry. The Peoples Republic of Kalifornia will take care of all of them. They won't crack down on the problem--that might hurt someone's feelings.

They may say something about "you really should not eat cheese from street vendors"; but they will not crack down, close shops, fine people big bucks, detain or ship out to country of origin. They will just try to help the poor ILLEGALS who are making and selling ILLEGAL foods.

vaudine

[Condor51]

One way or another these $%#@ing ILLEGALS are going to kill us all. Now it’s with a disease virtually wiped out in the U.S. approx 100 years ago.

[Cold Heart]

Call it Undocumented Cheese and it will be more acceptable to the consumer.

[cyborg]

Eat or drink anything that comes out of a bathtub and you deserve what you get.

[socal_parrot]

I like cheese.

[freeangel]

Hey, no problem—US citizens are ready and willing to pay for treatment. Just ask McCain and obama.

[He'sComingBack!]

Bathtub Cheese: Another “benefit” of open borders.

[mdk1960]

Tu-brie-culosis?

[PROCON]

Tu-brie-culosis?

Too cheesy! :-)

[Dr. Ursus]

Just ask Cosmo Kramer!

[DannyTN]

Weren’t there some libertarians on FR arguing that government has no business regulating banning the sale of unpasteurized dairy products? or requiring country of origin labels or anything else?

[Publius Valerius]

Hmm. Unhappy cows, I see.

[PGalt]

Thanks for posting; ping; ping.

Health/life BUMP!

[arthurus]

We must import this new TB. It is part and parcel of the Latino Culture and must be welcomed with open arms and Open Welfare in the interests of Multiculturalism and the needs of Aztlan.

[Stentor]

I like cheese.

I'm partial to bathtub mousse.

[Steve0113]

ping

[mouse_35]

I should have the right to eat unpasteurized dairy products if I want to. I would have no trouble eating unpasteurized cheese from a small local artisan cheese maker. I would not eat unpasteurized products from Kraft or from a producer of whom I’m unfamiliar.

I have no problem requiring labeling of unpasteurized cheese products. Some people are unwilling to take the risk and for others it is ill advised. But just because some people shouldn’t eat unpasteurized milk products isn’t a good reason to keep those of us who like them from being able to buy them.

[ErnBatavia]

"Get your Bathtub Cheese right here!"