An Oklahoma dairy is recalling unpasteurized, raw milk because the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry found Listeria monocytogenes in it.
Swan Bros. Dairy of Claremore, OK, had a similar recall this past July when officials found Listeria contamination of its raw milk.
The current recall involves raw milk the dairy sold in plastic jugs of half-gallons, gallons and pints. The milk was sold directly from the Swan Bros. Dairy. The statewide recall includes raw whole milk, raw 2-percent milk, raw skim milk and raw heavy cream sold in pints.
State health officials are urging consumers who bought the milk to discard it immediately and throughly clean and sanitize and containers or storage areas the milk came into contact with.
Also, anyone who has consumed the raw milk should monitor themselves for 70 days because it can take that long for symptoms of Listeria infection to develop.
State officials found the Listeria monocytogenes in a routine sample collected from Swan Bros. Dairy Inc.
About Listeria infection
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten any of the unpasteurized, raw dairy products and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical treatment and tell their doctors about the possible Listeria exposure.
Also, anyone who has eaten any of the recalled raw dairy products should monitor themselves for symptoms during the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop.
Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses.
Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections and other complications. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth.
