County Press Releases

Placerville, CA - Additional information has been released, over the last few days, regarding the High Hill Ranch unpasteurized apple juice Eschericia coli (E. coli) investigation. The following are the updated facts about the case:

• On October 23, 2015, according to Sacramento County Department of Health and Human Services there were at least seven (7) cases of E. coli illness among residents of Sacramento County who consumed unpasteurized apple juice either sampled at or purchased from High Hill Ranch between October 10 and October 12, 2015.
• On October 23, 2015, High Hill Ranch voluntarily discontinued the processing, sale and distribution of unpasteurized apple juice currently in stock. Unpasteurized apple juice was replaced with a flash pasteurized apple juice product produced and bottled by another local vendor.
• On October 23, 2015, the County of El Dorado issued a press release advising the public of a voluntary recall of unpasteurized apple juice initiated by High Hill Ranch due to suspected contamination with bacteria, likely a strain of E. coli. Consumers were advised not to consume unpasteurized apple juice purchased on or after October 6, 2015, and to dispose of any remaining product.
• On October 29, 2015, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) notified the County that there were thirteen (13) ill patients associated with the consumption of unpasteurized apple juice from High Hill Ranch. Three (3) of these patients were laboratory confirmed with E. coli 0111. Two (2) additional patients were subsequently confirmed to have E. coli 0111.
• On October 30, 2015, High Hill Ranch notified the County that they had submitted samples of unpasteurized apple juice to an independent laboratory for testing for E. coli 0111. The juice samples tested were from a separate and subsequent production run after the suspected processing period that may have contained harmful bacteria.
• On November 4, 2015, the County was notified by the CDPH that a sample of unpasteurized juice obtained from one of the ill Sacramento County patients had tested positive for E. coli 0111.
• On November 5, 2015, the County was notified by the CDPH that all laboratory samples collected from High Hill Ranch on October 21, 2015 by CDPH were negative for the presence of E. coli 0111.

High Hill Ranch has voluntarily discontinued the production and sale of unpasteurized apple juice indefinitely. No other High Hill Ranch products are being investigated. High Hill Ranch continues to fully cooperate with local and state health officials during this ongoing investigation.

The Environmental Management Division conducts routine inspections of food establishments in El Dorado County. For questions about the program, or other questions about the current recall at High Hill Ranch, please contact Environmental Management at (530) 621-5300.

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