Listeria Outbreak In Dairy: CDC Warns Deadly Listeria in Raw Milk Products

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC Miller's Organic Farm Amos Miller Listeria Listeria outbreak

By Alexis Villarias , Parent Herald Mar 21, 08:49 am

The U.S. Centers for Disease, Control & Prevention has issued a warning against consuming raw milk products after samples from Miller's Organic Farm resulted to positive with Listeria. The organic farm was linked to a 2014 Listeria outbreak resulting in one death.

While the outbreak happened two years ago, officials just confirmed on Friday the connection between the deadly Listeria outbreak and Miller's Organic Farm. Earlier in January, the FDA tested a raw chocolate milk made by Miller's in Pennsylvania to be positive of Listeria.

The officials are conducting further investigation if other milk products could also be contaminated. "Because Listeria was recently found in raw milk produced by Miller's Organic Farm, CDC is concerned that conditions may exist at the farm that may cause further contamination of raw milk and raw dairy products distributed by this company and make people sick," CDC said in a statement according to UPI.

T2. Soft cheese, cold deli meat, raw milk, o my! Learn how to prevent Listeria food poisoning. https://t.co/fQUPm0EmXu #CDCchat

— CDC (@CDCgov) December 18, 2013

The CDC has long since advised the public from consuming raw, unpasteurized dairy products as they are highly positive of dangerous bacteria such as listeria, E. coli, salmonella and Campylobacter, Utah Peoples Post reported. Listeria is a gastro intestinal infection characterized by high fever, head and muscle aches, stiff neck, and diarrhea. If not treated right away, this could lead to death. Often, the symptoms don't appear until two to three weeks.

In 2014, two people were infected with a strain of Listeria from two different placed, California and Florida. While the two were hospitalized, the one from Florida passed away. Recently, two lawmakers from West Virginia have also fallen ill after consuming raw milk.

Meanwhile, the owner of Miller's Organic, Amos Miller, stated that the company's products are not sold in outlets and retail stores. The company operates as a private membership club; its products are exclusively available to its members. In an interview with CBS News, Miller isn't aware of any health issues caused by their farm-grown products.

Currently, raw milk is still sold at Miller's. To know more about Listeria, check out the video below: