State officials issue warning about raw milk after one person falls ill from campylobacter

The Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture and Health are warning consumers that raw milk sold under the Pure Pastures Dairy label may be contaminated.

Samples of the raw milk sold by Apple Valley Creamery were tested by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and these samples tested positive for Campylobacter. The Department of Health reports that one person who drank the milk became sick with campylobacteriosis.

The departments recommend that consumers immediately throw out raw milk with sell-by dates of April 3 through May 3.

Milk can become contaminated with harmful bacteria, such as Campylobacter, if a cow has an udder infection, or from manure contamination during milking or storage, officials said. Pasteurization of milk effectively eliminates these health threats. 

The Department of Agriculture says the bacteria Campylobacter is unrelated to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Pennsylvania continues its monitoring program for bird flu in poultry and has not detected the virus in any dairy cattle within the state.

The Apple Valley Creamery Pure Pastures Dairy milk was sold in quart and half-gallon glass containers at the following locations:

Adams County:

• Apple Valley Creamery, 541 Germany Rd, East Berlin
• Butcher Block Premium Meats & Seafood, 3055 Biglerville Rd, Biglerville
• D&S Produce, 888 Bushey School Rd, York Springs
• Etheric Connections Crystal Shop & Natural Food Store, 1863 Gettysburg Village Dr, Suite 830, Gettysburg
• Gateau Monique, 5 S Queen St, Littlestown
• Good Keeper Farm, 250 Old State Rd, Gardners
• Harvest Barn Country Market, 1924 York Rd, Gettysburg
• Homegrown Marketplace, Fairfield
• Taylor’s Greenhouse, 265 Fairgrounds Rd, Biglerville

Berks County:

• The Deli Station, 845 Woodland Rd, Wyomissing
• Goose Lane Egg Farm, 111 Goose Ln, Sinking Spring

Chester County:

• September Farm, 5287 Horseshoe Pike, Honey Brook

Columbia County:

• Millville Farm Market & Creamery, 650 N State St, Millville

Cumberland County:

• Basehore Farm Market, 6080 Creekview Rd, Mechanicsburg
• Oak Grove Farms, 846 Fisher Rd, Mechanicsburg
• Rowan Tree Farm, 126 S Locust Point Rd, Mechanicsburg
• Wenger Meats & Ice, 511 E Louther St, Carlisle
• Union Mill Acres @ West Shore Farmer’s Market, 900 Market St, Lemoyne

Dauphin County:

• Radish & Rye Food Hub, 1308 N 3rd St, Harrisburg
• Strites’ Orchard Farm Market & Bakery, 1000 Strites Rd, Harrisburg

Perry County:

• Butcher’s Farm Market, 590 N 4th St, Newport
• Deimler’s Butcher Shop, 633 Numer Rd, Newport

Lancaster County:

• Lemon Street Market, 241 W Lemon St, Lancaster

Lehigh County:

• Cow Belle Home Delivery, Bethlehem

Northampton County:

• Easton Public Market & Highmark Farmstand, 325 Northampton St, Easton
• Johnsonville Farm & Garden, 154 Johnsonville Rd, Bangor

Union County:

• Lewisburg Pharmacy, 50 N Second St, Lewisburg

York County:

• Eden Garden Farm Market & Orchard, 810 Franklin Church Rd, Dillsburg
• Mad Radish Farm, 1991 George St, Dover
• Main Street Market, 12 Main St, Glen Rock
• The Markets at Hanover, 1649 Broadway, Hanover
• Trailside Bulk Foods @ Markets of Shrewsbury, 12025 Susquehanna Trl, Glen Rock
• Miller’s Country Market, 1140 Abbotstown Pike, Hanover
• Rowan Tree Farm @ Central Market York, 34 W Philadelphia St, York
• Sonnewald Natural Foods, 4796 Lehman Rd, Spring Grove
• Warrington Farm Meats, 156 Old Cabin Hollow Rd, Dillsburg
• Wholly Holistic, 1150 Carlisle St, Ste 8, Hanover

About campylobacter infections
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outbreaks have been associated with unpasteurized dairy products, contaminated water, poultry and produce. People also can become infected from contact with dog or cat feces. Person-to-person spread of Campylobacter is uncommon.

Many people recover in a week, but Campylobacter infection can result in long-term consequences, such as arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).

Azithromycin and fluoroquinolones such as ciprofloxacin are commonly used for treatment, but resistance to fluoroquinolones is common.

Campylobacter infection symptoms usually begin two to five days after exposure and are characterized by diarrhea (frequently bloody), abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and sometimes vomiting. More severe illness can occur, including bloodstream infection and symptoms mimicking acute appendicitis or ulcerative colitis.

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News,click here)