FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
8/15/2025
Contact: Alexia Kulwiec, Executive Director
773.490.4063
What Happened
Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund is troubled by actions involving Keely Farms Dairy in Florida. Keely Farms Dairy is licensed as a livestock feed provider by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).
Yet the Florida Department of Health, not the FDACS, has publicly blamed Keely Farms Dairy for an alleged disease outbreak without taking action to fully investigate their operations or test milk samples from the farm.
It appears that the DOH did not perform a root cause analysis. The department has never brought a specific allegation against the farm or provided the farm with any written communication identifying a specific problem. Nor have they physically visited or inspected the farm.
On August 7, 2025, the Department of Health issued a press release claiming that “recent severe cases of both” a strain of E-coli and Campylobacter are “linked to” Keely Farms Dairy without informing Keely Farms Dairy.
A full week later, on August 14, 2025, the Florida Department of Health finally left a message with Keely Farms Dairy after a Florida legislator contacted the Department on the farm’s behalf.
Keely Farms Dairy has had its milk tested by reputable laboratories which indicates that it does not contain any strain of E-coli or Campylobacter, referenced by the DOH.
FTCLDF's Take
“The Florida Department of Health’s actions are unusual, confusing, and frankly troubling,” said Alexia Kulwiec, executive director of Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund.
“Here at FTCLDF, we have experience with many local departments of health,” Kulwiec continued. “If the Department had evidence that Keely Farms Dairy sold contaminated raw milk for livestock feed, it would be taking serious action against the farm.”
“Instead, the Department is attacking this farm with damaging publicity,” Kulwiec concluded.
What's Next
The farm will cooperate with the Department of Health. In the meantime, the farm is now facing private litigation based on DOH’s press release.
FTCLDF will continue to monitor and assist with this situation.
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Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund protects, defends, and broadens the rights and viability of independent farmers, artisanal food producers, and their consumers.
