Agriculture Department Warns Pennsylvania Consumers of Tainted Raw Milk
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Consumers who purchased raw milk from Beulah Land Jerseys in Jonestown, Lebanon County, any time after March 18 should discard it immediately due to the risk of Listeria Monocytogenes contamination, agriculture secretary Dennis Wolff said today.
Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized or homogenized. Pennsylvania farms selling raw milk must be permitted and have samples of their milk laboratory tested due to the health risks associated with the unpasteurized products.
"During routine testing, samples taken at the dairy tested positive for Listeria Monocytogenes," said Wolff. "If consumers have raw milk from this farm, they should discard it immediately."
No illnesses have been reported as a result of the potential contamination, but if people who consumed the raw milk become ill, they should consult a physician.
Samples were taken from the farm on April 8; they tested positive for Listeria Monocytogenes on April 14. Until multiple laboratory samples test negative, the farm's unpasteurized milk is not safe for human consumption. The farm's milk can continue to be safely sold for pasteurization to a processing facility.
Symptoms of Listeriosis are fever, muscle aches, and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions can occur. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, but infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth. Symptoms of Listeriosis can appear in four days to three weeks.
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Newsletter
Stay prepared and protected with Infection Control Today's newsletter, delivering essential updates, best practices, and expert insights for infection preventionists.
Reducing Hidden Risks: Why Sharps Injuries Still Go Unreported
July 18th 2025Despite being a well-known occupational hazard, sharps injuries continue to occur in health care facilities and are often underreported, underestimated, and inadequately addressed. A recent interview with sharps safety advocate Amanda Heitman, BSN, RN, CNOR, a perioperative educational consultant, reveals why change is overdue and what new tools and guidance can help.
New Study Explores Oral Vancomycin to Prevent C difficile Recurrence, But Questions Remain
July 17th 2025A new clinical trial explores the use of low-dose oral vancomycin to prevent Clostridioides difficile recurrence in high-risk patients taking antibiotics. While the data suggest a possible benefit, the findings stop short of statistical significance and raise red flags about vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), underscoring the delicate balance between prevention and antimicrobial stewardship.
What Lies Beneath: Why Borescopes Are Essential for Verifying Surgical Instrument Cleanliness
July 16th 2025Despite their smooth, polished exteriors, surgical instruments often harbor dangerous contaminants deep inside their lumens. At the HSPA25 and APIC25 conferences, Cori L. Ofstead, MSPH, and her colleagues revealed why borescopes are an indispensable tool for sterile processing teams, offering the only reliable way to verify internal cleanliness and improve sterile processing effectiveness to prevent patient harm.
The Next Frontier in Infection Control: AI-Driven Operating Rooms
Published: July 15th 2025 | Updated: July 15th 2025Discover how AI-powered sensors, smart surveillance, and advanced analytics are revolutionizing infection prevention in the OR. Herman DeBoard, PhD, discusses how these technologies safeguard sterile fields, reduce SSIs, and help hospitals balance operational efficiency with patient safety.
Targeting Uncertainty: Why Pregnancy May Be the Best Time to Build Vaccine Confidence
July 15th 2025New national survey data reveal high uncertainty among pregnant individuals—especially first-time parents—about vaccinating their future children, underscoring the value of proactive engagement to strengthen infection prevention.
