As a precaution, East End Food Co-op has pulled Your Family Cow raw milk products from our shelves.
Please read the media release below for more information. Other brands of local raw milk will remain on our shelves.

Jan. 27, 2012

Health Department Advises Consumers about Raw Milk Produced in Franklin

County

***

*Harrisburg -* The Pennsylvania Department of Health today advised

consumers who purchased raw milk from The Family Cow store in

Chambersburg, Franklin County, that several recent illnesses indicate

the raw milk may contain harmful bacteria. Raw milk is milk that has not

been pasteurized.

The department confirmed three cases of Campylobacter infection in

persons in Pennsylvania and three confirmed cases in Maryland, all of

whom consumed raw milk from this farm. While a formal recall has not yet

been announced, the department recommends consumers discard any product

purchased after Jan. 1.

The Department of Agriculture is awaiting test results from the raw milk

samples. The farm has voluntarily suspended raw milk production.

Campylobacter is a bacterial infection that affects the intestinal tract

and can sometimes affect the bloodstream and other organs. It is one of

the most common causes of gastroenteritis, which can include diarrhea

and vomiting. Nearly 1,300 confirmed cases of Campylobacter are reported

each year in Pennsylvania.

The packaged raw milk is sold under The Family Cow label in plastic

gallon, half gallon, quart and pint containers. It is labeled as "raw

milk."

The Family Cow sells directly to consumers in an on-farm retail store

and at drop off locations and retail stores around Pittsburgh,

Philadelphia and the Lehigh Valley, as well as south-central Pennsylvania.

The shelf-life for raw milk is about 10 days, but can be longer if it is

frozen or used to make other products. Freezing the raw milk will not

necessarily kill the Campylobacter//bacteria.

Onset of illness usually occurs in two to five days after ingesting the

bacteria. Patients often do not require specific medical treatment

unless they become severely dehydrated or the infection spreads from the

intestines.

For more information about Campylobacter, visit the Department of Health

at _www.health.state.pa.us_or call 1-877-PA-HEALTH.

**

*Media contacts:*

Christine Cronkright or Holli Senior, Dept. of Health; 717-787-1783

Samantha Elliott Krepps, Dept. of Agriculture; 717-787-5085