WARNING: Raw Milk May Be Contaminated in Pennsylvania

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture press release, raw milk from Chester County may be potentially dangerous. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is warning residents about raw milk contaminated with Salmonella from the Conebella dairy farm located in Elverson, Chester County.

Anyone who has bought raw milk from the dairy farm after October 23 rd is advised to immediately throw it away due to the risk of Salmonellosis contamination.

Although some believe that raw milk is a better and a healthier choice due to the presence of healthy components, raw milk has not been pasteurized. Pasteurization destroys all potentially dangerous pathogens such as Salmonella. However, raw milk may contain pathogens if good farming and hygiene practices have not been followed.

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff warned that preliminary tests showed the presence of Salmonella bacteria in some raw milk samples from the Conebella dairy farm located in Elverson, Chester County so he is warning consumers who may have milk from this farm to throw it away immediately.

Luckily, no illnesses have been reported yet as a result of the salmonelosis contamination. However, if people who have consumed raw milk from this farm become somehow sick or suspects that may be getting sick they should seek immediate medical advise.

As preventive measures the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has halted the sale at the Conebella dairy farm located in Elverson, Chester County. More laboratory tests have been ordered and are underway.

Salmonellosis is an infection caused by the Salmonella bacteria. Usually people infected with Salmonella develop the following symptoms: diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. Symptoms appear six to 72 hours after the infection.

The illness lasts three to seven days and infected people usually recover without treatment. However, in some patients the diarrhea becomes severe, the patients get dehydrated and hospitalization will be required. This is usually the case foe the elderly, kids, and immunodefficient patients.