Raw milk tests positive for salmonella

HARRISBURG, Pa., – Consumers who purchased raw milk from Stump Acres Dairy of New Salem, Pa., in York County should immediately discard the product due to the risk of contamination with salmonella.
Individuals who drank raw milk from Stump Acres Dairy and became ill should consult with their physician and contact their local health department. If no illness occurred, it is not necessary to seek medical attention, but consumers should still discard the raw milk.
Confirmed. This consumer advisory is based on reports to the Department of Health about two confirmed cases and one probable case of Salmonella Typhimurium infection among York County residents who drank raw milk from Stump Acres Dairy in February. Additional cases of illness are suspected.
The state department of agriculture has suspended sales of raw milk at the dairy and is ensuring that corrective action is taken and that multiple laboratory samples come back negative for Salmonella before raw milk sales can resume.
As part of the investigation, the department got three positive milk cultures from the dairy. A milk sample obtained from consumers also tested positive at the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Bureau of Laboratories.
Clients. Stump Acres Dairy has a customer base of about 250 clients. The customers of the dairy are known to be from Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. No cases of salmonella infection have been identified at this time in the other states.
The shelf-life of raw milk is about 14 days, but can be longer if the milk is frozen. Freezing the milk will not kill the salmonella bacteria.
Salmonella is a bacterial infection that affects the intestinal tract and can sometimes affect the bloodstream and other organs. It is one of the most common causes of gastroenteritis, which can include diarrhea and vomiting.
Stats. Approximately 2,000 cases of salmonella are reported each year in Pennsylvania. Onset of illness usually occurs in 24 to 72 hours and patients typically recover in five to seven days. Patients often do not require treatment unless they become severely dehydrated or the infection spreads from the intestines.
Antibiotics are not usually necessary unless the infection spreads from the intestines.
For information on salmonella, visit the department of health Web site at www.health.state.pa.us or call 877-PA-HEALTH.