A farm in upstate New York has been prohibited from selling its raw milk after a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7. New York State Agricultural Commissioner Darrel J. Aubertine warned consumers Tuesday not to consume unpasteurized milk from Castle Farms of Irving, NY – located in Chautauqua County – because the milk may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria. The bacteria was discovered in a sample of the farm’s raw milk taken by a health department inspector on June 4. On June 7, Castle Farms was notified that the sample had tested positive for E. coli and the owners voluntarily removed their raw milk from the market. On June 12, test results were confirmed. The company – which is licensed by the State as a raw milk vendor – is now temporarily banned from selling the product until further testing shows that its raw milk is free from pathogens.
According to its website, Castle Farms sells milk from goats (cow’s milk does not appear to be an item they sell), so it is likely that the banned raw milk is goat milk. No ban has been placed on its other products, which include pasteurized goat milk, goat fudge, beef, and live animals – including baby goats. No illnesses have been associated with milk from the farm to date. Symptoms of an E. coli infection generally appear 2-5 days after ingesting the bacteria, and include severe abdominal pain and cramping, diarrhea, and in rare cases fever or vomiting. In severe cases, diarrhea may become watery or bloody. If you think you may have contracted an E. coli infection, contact your healthcare provider.
