New York health officials have a serious warning for anyone who buys milk. There’s unpasteurized raw milk from Willow Marsh Farm in Ballston Spa, New York, that has tested positive for Listeria, a harmful bacteria.
Richard A. Ball, the commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, announced that the milk from this farm should not be consumed. The farm is now banned from selling raw milk until tests confirm it’s safe to drink again.
This contamination was found during routine checks by inspectors. They informed the farm about the initial positive results on February 27, and follow-up testing on March 4 confirmed the harmful bacteria’s presence.
So far, there have been no reported illnesses linked to this milk, but health officials are taking the issue very seriously. If you have bought raw milk from Willow Marsh Farm, it’s important to throw it away immediately and reach out to the farm at (518) 288-3347 for more information.
Why is this important? Listeria can be particularly dangerous for certain groups of people. This includes young kids, the elderly, pregnant women, and anyone with a weak immune system. In some cases, listeriosis can lead to severe illness or even death. Even healthy people can get sick, experiencing flu-like symptoms such as high fever, headaches, nausea, and diarrhea.
Health officials often remind us that raw milk doesn’t go through the pasteurization process, which is critical for safety. Pasteurization involves heating the milk to kill harmful bacteria. This process protects against various foodborne illnesses like listeriosis, salmonellosis, and campylobacteriosis.
Despite health warnings, raw milk has become trendy among some consumers. However, this has led to multiple recalls and alerts for contaminated raw milk in recent months, raising concerns about its safety.
In summary, always choose pasteurized milk to keep you and your family safe. Let’s prioritize health and safety when it comes to our food choices.
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