The Pennsylvania Agriculture Department is warning consumers to discard raw milk purchased from Ben. K. Stoltzfus at Breezy Meadows Dairy at 2457 Stumptown Road, Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania because it is contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. Testing on April 7, 2015 was positive for the pathogenic bacteria.
The milk is sold directly to consumers at a store on the farm. It is sold in one-gallon and 1/2-gallon plastic containers. The containers containing the milk were not labeled. About 80 gallons of raw milk were sold between April 7 and April 15, 2015.
The farm will not be allowed to sell raw milk until two samples taken at least 24 hours apart test negative for Salmonella. Raw milk is legal in Pennsylvania, but farms must be permitted and inspected by the Department of Agriculture.
Discard the milk in a double bagged container. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling the milk or the container.
The symptoms of a Salmonella infection include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, fever, abdominal cramps, and vomiting. The illness usually lasts for about a week. Most people recover without medical treatment, but some people can become sick enough they must be hospitalized.
If you drank any raw milk from the Breezy Meadows Dairy and have experienced these symptoms, see your doctor as soon as possible. The long term complications of a Salmonella infection can be severe, including reactive arthritis and high blood pressure.
