Agriculture, Health Departments Warn Consumers to Discard Raw Milk from York County Dairy

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumers and retailers who purchased raw milk and raw milk cheese from Stump Acres Dairy in New Salem, York County, should discard it immediately due to the risk of Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture today said raw milk collected during an April 24 investigation of the farm tested positive for the bacteria. The testing process for Listeria can take up to 10 days. 

Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized.    

Pennsylvania law allows farms to sell raw milk but requires the farms to have a permit and be inspected by the agriculture department to reduce health risks associated with unpasteurized products.

In 2007, the agriculture department revoked Stump Acres' permit after the health department identified numerous individuals who had become sick after consuming raw milk from the dairy. The farm, located at 1737 Arnold Road in North Codorus Township, currently does not have a permit.

Symptoms of Listeriosis usually appear within one-to-three weeks, but can occur as short as three days or as long as 70 days after consumption and include fever, muscle aches and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea. If the 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.

To date, the Pennsylvania Health Department is not aware of any illnesses related to these products. Any person who consumed a product from Stump Acres Dairy and has symptoms should consult their physician, visit their local state health center or call 877-PA HEALTH (724-3258). 

For more information about food safety, visit www.EatSafePA.com. For more information on Listeriosis, visit www.health.state.pa.us.

Media contacts:
Dept. of Ag: Samantha Elliott Krepps, 717-787-5085
Dept. of Health: Holli Senior, 717-787-1783

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture