New York health officials have issued a warning to consumers about unpasteurized raw milk from Willow Marsh Farm in Ballston Spa, New York, after tests confirmed the presence of dangerous Listeria bacteria.
Commissioner Richard A. Ball of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets announced that raw milk produced by Charles B. Curtiss at the Saratoga County farm should not be consumed due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The farm has been ordered to halt all raw milk sales until further testing confirms the product is safe.
The contamination was discovered during routine sampling by department inspectors. Officials notified the producer of preliminary positive results on February 27, with confirmatory testing completed on March 4 conclusively identifying the presence of the harmful bacteria.
While no illnesses have been reported thus far, health officials are taking the threat seriously. Anyone who purchased raw milk from Willow Marsh Farm is advised to dispose of it immediately and contact the farm at (518) 288-3347.
Listeria infection poses particularly serious risks for vulnerable populations, including young children, elderly individuals, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems. In severe cases, listeriosis can be fatal. Even healthy individuals may experience flu-like symptoms including high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea if infected.
Health officials frequently warn that unlike pasteurized milk products, raw milk lacks critical safety processing that would eliminate dangerous bacteria. Pasteurization, which involves heating milk to specific temperatures for set time periods, effectively kills bacteria responsible for numerous foodborne illnesses including listeriosis, salmonellosis, and campylobacteriosis.
In recent years, raw milk consumption has gained popularity among some consumers despite consistent warnings from public health experts about its safety risks. Over the last several months alone, multiple recalls and alerts have been issued for contaminated raw milk, including:
- Another raw milk recall due to bacterial contamination
- Raw milk facility halts distribution after bird flu detection
- Connecticut recalls Nature View Dairy raw milk due to potential Campylobacter contamination
- E. coli contaminated raw milk sold in Pennsylvania
Commenting on this article, the nation’s leading Listeria lawyer said, “Pasteurization is recognized by international health authorities as an essential safeguard against potentially deadly outbreaks of foodborne illness. I strongly encourage all consumers to only drink pasteurized milk to reduce the risk of illness to themselves and their family.”
