The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has issued a warning regarding raw milk contaminated with E. coli bacteria. The affected product, sold by Meadow View Jerseys of Leola, Pennsylvania, was distributed to 14 stores across Lancaster County and surrounding areas in southcentral Pennsylvania between August 5 and 12, 2024.
The contaminated milk, packaged in various plastic and glass containers with a sell-by date of August 19, was identified through routine pathogen testing. The Department of Agriculture has confirmed the presence of E. coli through independent testing and is advising consumers to immediately dispose of any purchased products.
E. coli is a bacterium with the potential to be fatal, inducing symptoms such as abdominal cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue from dehydration that appear three to four days after the initial infection, though in some cases, symptoms don’t appear for over a week.
Although unpleasant, most symptoms subside within a week. In extreme cases, individuals experience hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a deadly complication that shuts down the kidneys and other vital organs. Symptoms of HUS include less frequent urination, loss of color in the cheeks and inner eyelids, and extreme fatigue. Anyone showing one or more of these symptoms should seek medical care immediately.
The affected milk was sold at the farm’s store in Leola and at retailers across Lancaster, Berks, Dauphin, and Lebanon counties. Meadow View Jerseys has contacted distributors to alert them of the contamination.
As of the latest report, no cases of illness related to this contamination have been reported. However, the Department of Agriculture urges anyone experiencing symptoms consistent with E. coli exposure to seek medical attention promptly.
A comprehensive list of distributors has been released (see bottom of article), including 11 locations in Lancaster County, and one each in Berks, Dauphin, and Lebanon counties. These range from farm stores and groceries to specialty food shops.
This and other recent pathogenic outbreaks linked to the consumption of raw milk and raw milk products highlight the potential risks associated with consuming raw, unpasteurized milk products. Food Poisoning News has previously reported on a large-scale Salmonella outbreak tied to raw milk that affected at least 165 people in California and a multi-state E. coli outbreak traced to raw milk cheese that sickened at least 10 across four states.
Commenting on this story, one national E. coli lawyer said, “I advise consumers to check their purchases and strongly urge them to dispose of any affected products, whether or not they look or smell safe to consume. The chance of E. coli infection is not worth the risk.”
List of retail locations where the contaminated raw milk was sold:
Berks County
Weaver Orchard, 40 Fruit Lane, Morgantown, PA 19543
Dauphin County
Soil & Soul Farm, 2405 Colebrook Road, Middletown, PA 17057
Lancaster County
Meadow View Jerseys Retail Farm Store, 172 South Farmersville Road, Leola, PA 17540
Bird in Hand Farm Supply, 2805 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird in Hand, PA 17505
Ebenezer Groceries, 465 North Reading Road, Ephrata, PA 17522
Everest Indian Grocery Store, 1621 Columbia Ave., Lancaster, PA 17603
Forry’s Country Store, 820 Ivy Drive Lancaster, PA 17601
Hilltop Acres, 347 Rife Run Road, Manheim, PA 17545
Meck’s Produce, 1955 Beaver Valley Pike, Strasburg, PA 17579
Sensenig Poultry, 843 Furnace Hill Road, Lititz, PA 17543
The Country Store 3140, Mount Joy Road, Mount Joy PA 17552
Union Mill Acres, 7557 Elizabethtown, Road Elizabethtown, PA 17022
Willow Creek Grocery, 30 Willow Street, Reinholds, PA 17569
Lebanon County
Country View Grocery, 1941 Horseshoe Pike, Annville, PA 17003
