New York Farm Barred From Selling Raw Milk Because Of Positive Test For Listeria
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New York officials have barred Big Brook Farm in Lee Center from selling raw milk after a state sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes and follow-up testing confirmed the bacteria. No illnesses had been confirmed as of Oct. 1, 2026, but officials warn that symptoms can take up to 70 days to appear.

New York officials have barred Big Brook Farm in Lee Center from selling raw milk after a sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, a potentially serious foodborne bacterium. The state’s Sept. 30 warning advises the public not to consume the farm’s raw milk; as of Oct. 1, no illnesses had been confirmed.

According to the warning, a state inspector collected a milk sample from the dairy, and the initial test returned a positive result. Follow-up testing confirmed Listeria, New York Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball said in the notice. The farm is prohibited from selling raw milk until tests show it is free of pathogens.

The warning identifies Big Brook Farm in Lee Center, New York, and applies to its raw milk. The source report does not give a product lot number, package size, distribution list, or a specific date range for sales. Consumers who have the farm’s raw milk are advised not to drink it.

State officials had not reported any illnesses linked to the milk as of Oct. 1. That status could change as public health agencies receive reports and investigate possible exposures: Listeria symptoms may take up to 70 days to develop after a person is exposed. A lack of confirmed cases at the time of the notice does not establish that no one has been exposed or become ill.

At a glance
updateWhen: Warning issued Sept. 30, 2026; status r…
The developmentState testing found Listeria monocytogenes in raw milk from Big Brook Farm, prompting a public warning and a sales ban until testing shows the milk is free of pathogens.

A Sales Ban Limits Further Exposure

The state’s action is intended to stop additional sales while testing continues. Listeria can cause severe illness, including life-threatening infections, and contaminated food may not look, smell, or taste spoiled. That means consumers cannot reliably identify unsafe milk by checking its appearance or odor.

People who drank the implicated milk and become ill should seek medical care and tell their health care provider about the possible Listeria exposure, according to the warning. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Because the infection can resemble other illnesses, diagnosis requires specific laboratory testing.

Some people face a greater risk of serious outcomes: pregnant people, older adults, young children, and people with weakened immune systems. Infection during pregnancy may be mild for the pregnant person but can still lead to premature delivery, infection in a newborn, or stillbirth. The 70-day possible incubation period also means consumers may need to remain alert for symptoms for weeks after drinking the milk.

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Earlier Listeria Warning at the Farm

The latest notice follows a similar warning in 2024, when testing also found Listeria monocytogenes in milk from Big Brook Farm, according to Food Safety News. The available report does not provide further details about that earlier incident, including how long sales were suspended or what corrective steps followed.

Raw milk has not been pasteurized, a process used to kill harmful bacteria. Food Safety News says raw milk can carry Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli, and other pathogens. Its report cites research finding that people who drink raw milk are 800 times more likely to become sick than people who drink pasteurized milk; the cited material does not provide the study details or comparison period.

The notice concerns sales from a New York farm. Separately, the report states that selling raw milk across state lines is illegal. It does not say whether the milk involved in this warning was distributed beyond the farm or identify any retailers or other sales locations.

“A sample of the dairy’s milk collected by a state inspector returned a positive result, and follow-up testing confirmed the presence of the bacteria.”

— Richard A. Ball, New York Agriculture and Markets commissioner, as quoted in the state warning

Exposure and Case Details Remain Unknown

As of Oct. 1, officials had confirmed no illnesses, but the report does not say how many people may have bought or consumed the milk. It also does not provide the amount of milk involved, the dates it was sold, or whether any product remains in consumers’ homes.

The source material does not identify the specific corrective measures the farm must take, the number or timing of future tests, or when the state expects to review the results. It is also unclear whether investigators are tracing sales or contacting customers. Those details matter because symptoms can appear as late as 70 days after exposure, and illness reports may follow the initial warning.

The positive test and follow-up confirmation are reported by state officials; the available information does not give laboratory results or additional technical details. The reported 2024 incident is also not described in enough detail to establish whether it involved the same source of contamination or any connection to the current finding.

Farm Must Pass Further Testing

Big Brook Farm cannot resume raw milk sales unless testing shows the product is free of pathogens. The source report does not state when another sample will be collected or when officials may announce results. The sales restriction therefore remains in place until the state’s testing condition is met.

Consumers who may have the farm’s milk should follow the public warning and not consume it. Anyone who drank it should watch for symptoms over the coming weeks and seek medical advice if they become ill, mentioning the potential exposure. Health officials had not announced confirmed cases as of Oct. 1; further updates would be needed to establish whether illnesses emerge or when the farm’s sales status changes.

Key Questions

Which farm’s raw milk is affected?

The warning applies to raw milk from Big Brook Farm in Lee Center, New York.

Why has the farm been barred from selling raw milk?

A sample collected by a state inspector tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, and follow-up testing confirmed the bacteria. Sales are barred until tests show the milk is free of pathogens.

Have any illnesses been confirmed?

No illnesses had been confirmed as of Oct. 1, 2026, according to the report. Listeria symptoms can take up to 70 days to develop, so that status may not account for every possible exposure.

What should someone do after drinking the milk?

Anyone who drank the implicated milk should monitor for symptoms and seek medical care if they become ill, telling the provider about the possible Listeria exposure. Symptoms can include fever, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, severe headache, or neck stiffness.

When can the farm sell raw milk again?

The farm may not sell raw milk until testing shows it is pathogen free. The report does not provide a date for the next test or a timeline for lifting the ban.

Source: rss

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