Florida Mother Sues Dairy Farm in Wake of Raw Milk Outbreak

A Florida woman is suing Keely Farms Dairy in New Smyrna Beach after she says raw milk from the facility sickened her toddler and led to the loss of her unborn child.

Court records show that the case was filed in the 18th Judicial Circuit Court in Seminole County, Florida, on August 14, 2025, under Case No. 2025CA001856. The lawsuit was brought by Rachel Maddox, both individually and as the parent and legal guardian of her minor child, identified only as L.U.

The defendants named in the case are Keely Farms Dairy LLC and Natures Natural Foods LLC, which operates under the business name Wild Hare Natural Market. The suit comes after the Florida Department of Health linked raw milk from Keely Farms to at least 21 cases of E. coli and Campylobacter infections since January, including six children under 10 and seven hospitalizations.

Maddox told WKMG News 6 that she had no idea of the risks when she bought the raw, unpasteurized milk in June while nearly 20 weeks pregnant.

“I became very ill and I mean the sickest I’ve ever been in my life,” Maddox said. “I came really close to dying and our [unborn] son did die. The doctors told me that I was lucky to be alive.”

According to the lawsuit, Maddox purchased the milk for her husband, who grew up drinking fresh farm milk in Eastern Europe. She said she noticed the label stating it was “not for human consumption” but was allegedly told “that was a technical requirement to sell ‘farm milk.’ ” (Florida law states that raw milk can be sold for only non-human consumption as pet or animal food.)

The complaint alleges that Maddox’s toddler drank the milk on June 8 and quickly developed diarrhea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, and dehydration.

He was hospitalized three times in the following weeks, undergoing surgery for intussusception (a bowel blockage) and being treated for possible hemolytic uremic syndrome, a life-threatening complication of E. coli.

“L.U.’s medical treatment continues to this day,” the lawsuit said.

Maddox herself said she became ill while caring for her sick child.

“I contracted the bacteria from cleaning up the diarrhea and vomiting,” she told WKMG. “As a mom, you get a lot of stuff on you when your kid is sick, and I became ill by contracting the bacteria that way.”

Maddox was hospitalized on June 13 with diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration. Five days later, her 20-week-old fetus died, and Maddox was diagnosed with sepsis. She has since required multiple hospitalizations and continues to undergo treatment.



The Florida Department of Health has said Keely Farms was tied to 21 cases of illness and raised concerns about sanitation practices at the farm. However, the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund has accused the DOH of making the claim without taking action to fully investigate their operations or test milk samples from the farm.

“Sanitation practices in this farm are of concern due to the number of cases,” the DOH said in an Aug. 4 news release, noting that infants, children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems face the highest risk.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services also urged residents to avoid raw milk.

“Florida’s pasteurized milk supply is safe, nutritious, and closely controlled,” Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson said. “There have been no reported illnesses from pasteurized milk products in Florida.”

Maddox appears to be represented by Ron Simon & Associates, a Texas-based food safety law firm that specializes in foodborne illness litigation. The firm confirmed that hers is the first lawsuit filed in connection to the outbreak.

“This is about accountability,” the firm said in a statement. “Families deserve to know the risks when products being sold in stores have the potential to cause this level of harm.”

Ron Simon & Associates, which reports securing more than $850 million in verdicts and settlements in foodborne illness cases, notes the scope of the outbreak in its announcement. According to the firm, there have been seven hospitalizations (some involving children) and at least two cases with severe complications among the 21 cases since January. The firm added that it is actively accepting additional cases connected to the outbreak.

Keely Farms has denied wrongdoing and emphasized that its products are labeled as animal feed.

“Raw milk is sold ‘Not for human consumption’ and as ‘animal feed,’” the farm said in a Facebook post. “The Department of Health has not been to the farm or taken any samples here. The Department of Health has not indicated to Keely Farms that it committed any wrongdoing, so its press release has blindsided us.”

In the wake of the lawsuit and state health warnings, Keely Farms has turned to its community for support. A GoFundMe campaign titled “Raw Milk Producer and Family Farm in Crisis” was launched by farm owner Keely Exum, raising more than $13,000 of a $40,000 goal as of mid-August.

On the fundraising page, Exum described the farm as a woman-owned business that has operated in Central Florida for 11 years, employing veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities. She said the farm has also provided sanctuary for retired horses, rescued cats, and other animals.

Exum wrote, “We just milk our cows, provide livestock feed, and serve as upstanding members of our community. But we are being attacked by the news media after being ‘linked’ by the Florida Department of Health to an ‘outbreak’ of two different bacteria spanning 8 months’ time without any notification of an investigation or proof of an issue.”

“This has been devastating for the farm,” she wrote. “It has affected farm sales and left us heartbroken and struggling to pay the bills. We want to continue providing a service to our community. We need to be able to afford to feed our beloved animals and pay the employees who care for them.”

Although it is illegal to sell raw milk for human consumption in Florida, farms can sell it as pet food if labeled accordingly.

Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo defended consumer choice, writing on X: “Floridians have the freedom to make informed health choices. I support the decision to consume raw milk when sought for potential health benefits and protective factors. Be aware of your source and know the risks.”

But both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration maintain that pasteurization eliminates harmful bacteria without affecting nutrition. “Pasteurized milk offers the same nutritional benefits without the risks of raw milk consumption,” the CDC states.