Agriculture officials in New York have issued a warning for Stap Farm raw milk after Listeria monocytogenes was discovered in a sample during routine testing. Consumers who have this milk should not drink it as Listeria can cause serious illness or death.
No illnesses have been reported in connection with the warning, but symptoms of a Listeria infection, called listeriosis, can take up to two months to develop. They include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria poses a special risk to pregnant women as it can cause miscarriage or stillbirth.
Stap Farm, ocated at 426 Drexel Dr., Pine Bush, NY 1256 is owned by Robert & Stacey Stap. A sample of the milk, collected April 28, 2014, was subsequently tested by the agriculture department’s Food Laboratory and was positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Additional testing, completed on May 5, confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the raw milk sample.
Raw milk laws vary from state to state. In New York, all farms that sell raw milk must have a permit and are inspected monthly.
