Raw Milk Recalled from Breezy Meadows Dairy due to Salmonella

Consumers who purchased raw milk from Ben K. Stoltzfus, Breezy Meadows Dairy, 2457 Stumptown Road, Bird-In-Hand, PA 17505 should discard it immediately due to Salmonella contamination.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture today said raw milk collected during required routine sampling by a commercial laboratory on April 7, 2015 tested positive for the bacteria.

Breezy Meadows, owned by Ben K. Stoltzfus, sells directly to consumers at an on-farm retail store. The packaged raw milk is sold in one-gallon and ½-gallon plastic containers. Approximately 80 gallons of raw milk were sold between April 7 and April 15, 2015.  The plastic containers are not labeled.

Agriculture officials have ordered the owner to stop sale of all raw milk until further notice. Two samples taken at least 24 hours apart must test negative for pathogens before the farm can resume raw milk sales.

Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized.

Pennsylvania law allows farms to sell raw milk, but requires the farms to be permitted and inspected by the Department of Agriculture to reduce health risks associated with unpasteurized products.

When an incident of contamination is discovered, the department’s milk sanitarian works with the raw milk permit holder to educate them on where the issue occurred and how to find a solution.

Symptoms of Salmonellosis usually appear within 12 to 72 hours after consumption and include diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps and vomiting that can last anywhere from four to seven days.

For more information about salmonella, visit www.health.state.pa.us.

To date, the Pennsylvania Health Department is not aware of any illnesses related to these products. Any person who consumed raw milk from Breezy Meadows Dairy and has symptoms should consult their physician, visit their local health center or call 877-PA HEALTH (714-3258).