New Jersey Company May Be Selling Raw Milk in NY

From Ag and Markets and the Department of Health:

Consumers are being warned against purchasing raw milk from the Udder Milk Co. in New Jersey.

A New Jersey resident recently was diagnosed with a disease called brucellosis after her reported purchase of raw milk from a home delivery company named Udder Milk.

Drop off locations for the purchase of raw milk and other products from Udder Milk have been identified in New York City and Long Island. Although there are no confirmed illnesses in New York state, health officials remind consumers about the health risks associated with the consumption of any raw milk products.
  
"We are concerned by the illness reported in New Jersey and are following this case very closely because we believe Udder Milk has delivered raw milk illegally in New York," said Ag and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball. "As we continue to collaborate with our federal and state partners in this investigation, we want to alert New Yorkers to the potential dangers of purchasing raw milk from this company."


New Jersey officials confirmed a person tested positive in late October for a rare bacterial infection called Brucella RB51. The person has since recovered. This is the second case of Brucella RB51 associated with raw milk consumption confirmed in the United States this year. 

The Texas Department of State Health Services, with assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is investigating a separate case connected to a dairy company in Paradise, Texas that also sells raw milk products.

The most recent case in New Jersey is being investigated by the U.S.Department of Agriculture, the CDC and the New Jersey Department of Health, with the cooperation of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, with assistance from Ag and Markets, the state Health Department and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. 

A health advisory will be distributed to New York City area healthcare providers and laboratories to raise awareness of the confirmed case.

Pasteurization is a process that heats raw milk to a specific temperature for a set period of time in order to kill any bacteria that may be present including those that can cause diseases such as listeriosis, salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis and brucellosis.

While primarily passed among infected animals, eating or drinking Brucella contaminated raw milk products can cause human infection. Brucellosis can cause a range of symptoms including fever, sweats, chills, weight loss, headache, fatigue and muscle and joint pain. Symptoms may appear up to six months after exposure. 

In severe cases, infections of the bones, joints, reproductive organs, central nervous system or lining of the heart may occur. The infection also can cause fetal loss in pregnant women.

People who experience symptoms and may have consumed raw milk should see a doctor right away. Healthcare providers should contact their local health department if they have any questions.

Listeria Found in Raw Milk in Allegany County

Consumers in Allegany County and the surrounding area have been warned not to consume “unpasteurized” raw milk from the Gerald E. Snyder Farm, due to possible Listeria contamination.  

The Snyder Farm is located at RD#1, 1444 Randolph Rd., Alfred Station. To date, no illnesses are known by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets to be associated with this product.

 

A sample of the milk, collected by an inspector from the department, was discovered to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. On Dec. 4, the producer was notified of a preliminary positive test result and declined to suspend sales during confirmatory testing.  

Further laboratory testing, completed on Dec. 9, confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the raw milk sample. The producer is now prohibited from selling raw milk until subsequent sampling indicates that the product is free of harmful bacteria.

 

Department officials recommend any consumers who purchased raw milk from the Snyder Farm immediately dispose of it and call the department at (518) 457-1772 if they have any questions.

Raw Milk from Downstate Farm Contaminated with Listeria

From the state Department of Agriculture and Markets:

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball today warned consumers in Orange County and the surrounding area not to consume “unpasteurized” raw farm milk from the Robert & Stacey Stap Farm due to possible Listeria contamination.  

The Stap Farm is located at 426 Drexel Dr., Pine Bush.

A sample of the milk, collected by an inspector from the Division of Milk Control and Dairy Services on April 28, 2014, was subsequently tested by the Department’s Food Laboratory and discovered to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  On May 1, 2014, the producer was notified of a preliminary positive test result. Further laboratory testing, completed on May 5, 2014, confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the raw milk sample. 

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail, or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Although otherwise healthy persons may suffer only short-term, flu-like symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

It is important to note that raw milk does not provide the protection of pasteurization, which eliminates all pathogenic bacteria, including Listeria.

To date, no illnesses are known by the department to be associated with this product.

The Raw Milk Debate Continues

South Dakota has new http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/94e90e1756b24e79ac9260dedc795221/SD--Raw-Milk regulations on raw milk.

Read my previous story on raw milk http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/10/raw_milk_some_consumers_swear.html at this link.

What are your thoughts about drinking raw milk?

Dairy Farmer Acquitted on 3 of 4 Charges in Raw Milk Trial

Go to http://www.jsonline.com/business/raw-milk-trial-in-hands-of-jury-b9918480z1-208900911.html to see the story.

Raw Milk Case Activists See Food Freedom on Trial

NPR weighs in on a trial concerning raw milk.

Check it out at http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/05/22/186018994/in-raw-milk-case-activists-see-food-freedom-on-trial?ft=1&f=1001&sc=tw&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Read my previous story about raw milk at http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/10/raw_milk_some_consumers_swear.html

What Do You Think About Raw Milk?

A website called "Where Is My Milk From" has run a two-part series about raw milk.

Go to http://whereismymilkfrom.com/blog/trends/raw-milk-safe-or-senseless-part-1-of-2/ for part 1 of the raw milk series.

Go to http://whereismymilkfrom.com/blog/trends/raw-milk-safe-or-senseless-part-2/ to read part 2 of the raw milk series.

Here is a story http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/10/raw_milk_some_consumers_swear.html I wrote in The Post-Standard in October 2011 about raw milk.

Read all of them and decide what you think about drinking raw milk.

Drug Residues in Raw Milk Decline

I did a big story about a year or so ago about the pros and cons of raw milk.

Here is a recent story from DairyBusiness Communications about the subject.

Read it http://dairybusiness.com/seo/headline.php?title=drug-residues-in-raw-milk-samples-decline&date=2013-02-21&table=headlines at this link.