Raw milk from the David Phippen Farm, doing business as Breese Hollow Dairy, is being recalled for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination, according to the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets. That dairy is located at 454 Breese Hollow Rd. Hoosick Falls, NY 12090. To date, no illnesses are known by the Department to be associated with this product.
A sample of the milk that was collected by an inspector on January 30, 2018 was contaminated wth the pathogenic bacteria. The producer was notified about this result on February 2, 2018. Breese Hollow Dairy voluntarily suspended sales of the milk when they were notified of the result. More testing conducted on February 6, 2018 confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in the product. The dairy cannot sell any more raw milk until more sampling is done and the product tests negative for pathogenic bacteria.
The food safety warning state, “It is important to note that raw milk does not provide the protection of pasteurization. Pasteurization is a process that heats milk to a specific temperature for a period of time to kill the bacteria 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 listeriosis.”
If you purchased products from this dairy, do not eat them. Throw them away in a sealed or double bagged package, or take them back to the place of purchase for a refund.
It’s important that you clean out your refrigerator with a mild bleach solution to kill any bacteria, since Listeria bacteria can grow at refrigerator temperatures. Use a solution of 1 tablespoon liquid chlorine bleach to 1 gallon of warm water. Wash your hands well with soap and water after cleaning and after handling these products.
If you consumed any of these products, monitor yourself for the symptoms of listeriosis for the next 70 days. Symptoms can include high fever, neck stiffness, nausea, severe headache, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. Pregnant women can suffer miscarriage and stillbirth if they contract this illness, but may only have mild symptoms similar to the flu. If you do get sick, see your doctor.
