Raw milk from Greenfield Dairy in Middleburg, PA may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and consumers should not drink it, Pennsylvania agriculture officials are warning. Results of routine tests on a raw milk sample collected from the farm on April 8 tested positive for the bacteria.
The raw milk included in the warning was sold at the on-farm retail store in half gallon glass containers with the Greenfield Dairy label dated April 18, 21, 22 and 24. It is labeled as “raw milk.” Raw milk sales at the farm have been halted by agriculture officials until two samples taken at least 24 hours apart are negative for Listeria.
Illnesses have not been reported to state health officials. Symptoms of a Listeria infection, called listeriosis, usually appear within one to three weeks but can develop within three days of exposure or take as long as 70 days to appear. Listeriosis symptoms include fever, muscle aches and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea. Infections that spread to the nervous system can cause headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance seizures or convulsions.
Young children, seniors, pregnant women and others with compromised immune systems are most at risk for listeriosis. Among pregnant women, Listeria infections can cause miscarriage or stillbirth.
