The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball warned consumers not to drink unpasteurized raw milk from the Martin Yoder Farm because it may be contaminated with Campylobacter. That farm is located at 2594 Murdock Road in Medina, New York.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem. Any consumer who bought that milk should immediately discard it.
A recent sample of the milk collected by an inspector was contaminated with the pathogenic bacteria. The producer was notified of a preliminary positive test result on September 13, 2017. Farm owners immediately and voluntarily suspended sales of the product.
Further testing, completed on September 15, 2017, confirmed the presence of Campylobacter jejune in the raw milk sample. That producer cannot sell any more raw milk until more sampling indicates the problem is resolved.
The notice states, “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.”
