The presence of listeria monocytogenes has been confirmed in raw goat milk, after the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets tested a sample of the milk in May 2019. As a result, the department is warning consumers not to drink the unpasteurized raw goat milk. Side Hill Acres, located in Candor, New York, produced and sold the potentially contaminated milk. After lab tests confirmed the presence of listeria in June 2019, however, Side Hill Acres is now prohibited from selling the milk to consumers.
Side Hill Acres is located at 79 Spencer Road in Candor. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is warning consumers in Tioga County and the surrounding area – as well as anyone else who may have purchased unpasteurized raw goat milk at Side Hill Acres – that it can cause a health risk as it is potentially contaminated with listeria.
Future samplings tested by inspectors must be free of harmful bacteria before Side Hill Acres will be allowed to produce and sell the raw goat milk again. Even after the raw goat milk is cleared for consumption, however, consumers should understand that raw milk does not provide the protection of pasteurization.
Pasteurization is a process that heats milk to a specific temperature for a set period of time. Pasteurization kills 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.
Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis, which can be a serious and sometimes fatal infection in young children, cancer patients, elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Otherwise healthy persons may suffer short-term, flu-like symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
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