Ag & Markets warns of contaminated raw milk at Medina dairy
Press release, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
MEDINA – Richard A. Ball, commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets, today warned consumers in Orleans County and the surrounding area not to consume unpasteurized raw milk from the Martin Yoder Farm due to possible Campylobacter jejuni contamination.
The Martin Yoder Farm is located at 2594 Murdock Rd., Medina. To date, the Department has not been notified of any illnesses associated with this product.
The Department recommends that any consumers who purchased raw milk from the Martin Yoder Farm immediately dispose of it.
Campylobacter jejuni is a common cause of food poisoning. Symptoms typically develop within two to five days after exposure and include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever and malaise. These symptoms generally last about seven days but Campylobacter jejuni has been linked to incidents of Guillain-Barre syndrome, which may occur weeks after exposure.
A recent sample of the milk collected by an inspector from the Department was found to be contaminated with Campylobacter jejuni. On Sept. 13, the producer was notified of a preliminary positive test result. The Martin Yoder Farm immediately voluntarily suspended sales of the product. Further laboratory testing, completed on Sept. 15, confirmed the presence of Campylobacter jejuni 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.
Consumers who may have purchased this product and have questions may call the Department at 518-457-1772.
Raw milk does not provide the protection of pasteurization. Pasteurization is a process that heats milk to a specific temperature for a set period of time. Pasteurization kills thebacteria responsible for numerous illnesses and diseases such as listeriosis, salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, diphtheria and brucellosis. Pasteurization of milk is recognized internationally as an effective means of preventing outbreaks of foodborne illnesses, including campylobacteriosis.
