Contaminated raw milk found at Schuyler County farm

Gillian Friebis
·2 min read

ODESSA, N.Y. (WETM) — People in the Schuyler County area are being warned not to consume unpasteurized raw milk from a farm in Odessa due to possible contamination.

According to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, samples of milk from Sunset View Creamer, which is located at 4970 county Road 14, tested positive for Campylobacter jejuni (campylobacteriosis). The department tested an investigative sample of milk, and it came back positive for the bacteria. Sunset View Creamer was notified of the preliminary positive result on April 25. Further testing was completed on April 29 and confirmed the presence of Campylobacter jejuni in the raw milk sample.

Sunset View Creamer is prohibited from selling raw milk until testing shows that the product is free from the bacteria. Anyone who has purchased raw milk from the farm should throw it away immediately and call Sunset View Creamery at 607-594-2095.

Contaminated raw milk found in Schuyler County

One illness that is potentially associated with this contamination has been reported to the Department of Agriculture as of April 29. According to the department, people with campylobacteriosis usually have diarrhea (often bloody), a fever, and stomach cramps and may experience nausea and vomiting. These symptoms typically start two to five days after the person ingests the bacteria and last for about one week. Campylobacteriosis can cause complications like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), arthritis, and temporary paralysis. In some cases, Campylobacter jejuni can spread to the bloodstream and cause a life-threatening infection in individuals with weakened immune systems.

The Department of Agriculture is reminding consumers that raw milk does not have the protection pasteurized milk has. The pasteurization process involves heating milk to a specific temperature for a specific amount of time. This process kills the bacteria responsible for diseases like campylobacteriosis, listeriosis (listeria), salmonellosis (salmonella), typhoid fever, tuberculosis, diphtheria, brucellosis, and more. Milk pasteurization is an internationally recognized means of preventing foodborne illness outbreaks.

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