Listeria Found in Local Raw Milk Batch
The Willow-Marsh Farm Store in the Town of Ballston. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
BALLSTON — The Willow-Marsh Farm Store announced on Feb. 4 that Listeria was found in a batch of their raw milk. The store owners, Sara and Chuck Curtiss, said it was the first time in more than 17 years that test results had shown Listeria present in their raw milk.
The store is not selling any raw milk until they receive the results of a retest taken on Feb. 11. The results are expected back at some point between Feb. 14 and 18. Anyone who has purchased milk from the store between Jan. 28 and Feb. 2 should dispose of it. The store also said they would be conducting their own Quality Milk Production Services herd survey on Feb. 11.
“We want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude for your continued support,” the Curtisses wrote in a Facebook post last weekend. “We are so grateful for all of the messages on our social media, calls to the farm store, and the emails we have received. They have been unexpected, informative…heart-warming, and, well, have given us so much positive energy as we deal with this challenge.”
Listeria is a foodborne bacterial illness. According to the Mayo Clinic, healthy people rarely become ill from listeria infection, but the disease can be fatal to unborn babies, newborns, and people with weakened immune systems. Prompt antibiotic treatment can help curb the effects of listeria infection. Listeria is most commonly caused by eating improperly processed deli meats and unpasteurized milk products.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, raw milk (otherwise known as unpasteurized milk) can carry bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that “consuming raw milk can lead to serious health risks, especially for certain vulnerable populations.”
Although not widely available, the production and sale of raw milk is legal in New York State, under certain conditions. The state requires all raw milk dealers to obtain a license in order to sell raw milk directly to the public, and the milk can only be sold on the farm where it is produced. The Willow-Marsh Farm Store is subject to monthly, unannounced inspections in which their milk, water, cheese, and cows are all assessed.