Agriculture Department Warns Consumers Of Tainted Raw Milk Sold By Lebanon County Dairy
August 23, 2017
Consumers who
purchased raw milk from Green Acres Jersey Farm in Lebanon any time after
May 8 should discard it immediately due to the risk of Listeria
contamination, Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff said today.
Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized or homogenized.
"During routine inspection of the dairy, a preliminary test showed the
presence of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in some raw milk samples," said
Wolff. "If consumers have raw milk from this farm, they should discard it
immediately."
There have been no illnesses reported as a result of the potential
contamination but if people who consumed the raw milk become ill, they
should consult their physicians.
The Department of Agriculture has suspended sales of raw milk at the
dairy and is ensuring that corrective action is taken. Samples were taken
from the farm during routine testing on May 29 and tested positive for
Listeria on June 1.
Multiple laboratory samples must test negative before sales can resume.
Symptoms of Listeriosis include fever, muscle aches and, sometimes,
gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea. If infection spreads
to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion,
loss of balance or convulsions can occur.
Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness,
but infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth.
Symptoms of Listeriosis can appear in four days to three weeks.
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
agriculture.state.pa.us