Raw Milk Sample from NY Farm Tests Positive for Listeria

The New York Department of Agriculture & Markets announced Tuesday that a sample of raw milk collected April 28 from a Pine Bush farm had tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Further testing on May 5 confirmed the presence of the bacteria.  State officials subsequently warned Orange County consumers and others in the area not to consume unpasteurized milk from the Stap Farm.  No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with consuming the milk, officials noted. However, the farm cannot sell any more product until it it receives state clearance to do so.  Bob Stap reportedly told a local newspaper that only one milk sample of five tested from his 100-cow farm showed the presence of Listeria. The Staps got into the raw-milk market about two years ago after 30 years of other types of farming, but he said that it only makes up about 1 percent of their total sales.  New York has about 43 farms that sell raw milk. The state requires licensed raw milk farms to be regularly tested and they may only sell the milk on the farm, not at retail or at farmers markets.