Castle Farms, the farm in Irving, New York that earlier this month was ordered to stop selling raw milk after random testing by the New York State Department of Agriculture (NYDA) produced a positive result of E.coli 0157:H7, has been granted a temporary permit to sell raw milk while it undergoes further testing, according to the NYDA.
The temporary permit was granted after a subsequent test for pathogens was negative according to and NYDA official. At least two more negative tests will be required before the permanent permit is reinstated, the official said. In New York, all farms that sell raw milk must be permitted and are inspected monthly.
On June 12, NYDA issued a Food Safety Alert notifying consumers that raw milk produced on the farm was potentially contaminated and they should not drink it.
E.coli 0157:H7 can cause illness if ingested. For those most at risk including young children, pregnant women, the elderly and those compromised immune systems, the illness can be severe and sometimes life-threatening particularly if a complication called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) develops. HUS can lead to kidney failure, stroke or coma. Symptoms of an E.coli infection include abdominal cramping and diarrhea that is often bloody. No illnesses have been linked to Castle Farms raw milk during this recall.
