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E. coli outbreak linked to raw milk from Lancaster County

Bottles of raw milk are displayed for sale at a store in Temecula, Calif., on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Sales of raw milk appear to be on the rise, despite an outbreak of bird flu in U.S. dairy cows. Federal officials warn about the health risks of drinking raw milk at any time, but especially during this novel outbreak.

 JoNel Aleccia/ AP Photo

Bottles of raw milk are displayed for sale at a store in Temecula, Calif., on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Sales of raw milk appear to be on the rise, despite an outbreak of bird flu in U.S. dairy cows. Federal officials warn about the health risks of drinking raw milk at any time, but especially during this novel outbreak.

This is a breaking news story. As often happens in situations like these, some information reported early may turn out to be inaccurate. We’ll move quickly to correct the record and we’ll only point to the best information we have at the time.

Raw milk contaminated with E.coli bacteria has been found at 14 stores in Lancaster County and southcentral Pennsylvania and should be thrown away immediately, according to the state’s Department of Agriculture.  

Milk sold between Aug. 5 to 12 by Leola-based Meadow View Jerseys has been found to be contaminated with the bacteria. The milk was sold in plastic gallon, quart, pint and plastic and glass half gallon jugs with a sell-by date of Aug. 19. 

Routine pathogen testing showed the milk was contaminated with E. coli bacteria that can make people sick with diarrhea, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, sepsis and other illnesses. The Department of Agriculture warned children under five, adults over 65 and people with compromised immune systems may be at risk. 

The farm’s store in Leola and retailers in Lancaster, Berks, Dauphin and Lebanon counties sold the milk, according to the department. The farm has reached out to retailers who distributed the milk.  

Meadow Valley Jersey alerted the Department of Agriculture of the contamination when a lab contracted by the farm for routine testing identified the presence of E. coli bacteria in raw milk samples. The Department of Agriculture confirmed the contamination through independent testing. 

As of yesterday, the Department of Agriculture has not been alerted to any patients experiencing symptoms of E. Coli exposure. The Department of Agriculture advises anyone experiencing symptoms to contact their physician. 

A representative from Meadow View Jerseys declined to comment Wednesday.

Distributors include:

Lancaster County

Meadow View Jerseys Retail Farm Store, 172 South Farmersville Road, Leola, PA 17540

Bird in Hand Farm Supply, 2805 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird in Hand, PA 17505

Ebenezer Groceries, 465 North Reading Road, Ephrata, PA 17522

Everest Indian Grocery Store, 1621 Columbia Ave., Lancaster, PA 17603

Forry’s Country Store, 820 Ivy Drive Lancaster, PA 17601

Hilltop Acres, 347 Rife Run Road, Manheim, PA 17545

Meck’s Produce, 1955 Beaver Valley Pike, Strasburg, PA 17579

Sensenig Poultry, 843 Furnace Hill Road, Lititz, PA 17543

The Country Store 3140, Mount Joy Road, Mount Joy PA 17552

Union Mill Acres, 7557 Elizabethtown, Road Elizabethtown, PA 17022

Willow Creek Grocery, 30 Willow Street, Reinholds, PA 17569

Berks County

Weaver Orchard, 40 Fruit Lane, Morgantown, PA 19543

Dauphin County

Soil & Soul Farm, 2405 Colebrook Road, Middletown, PA 17057

Lebanon County

Country View Grocery, 1941 Horseshoe Pike, Annville, PA 17003

The Centers for Disease Control website offers more information on potential illnesses from drinking raw milk.

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