The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is warning the public not to consume raw milk and raw milk products from the Family Cow dairy because it has tested positive for Salmonella.

Anyone who has raw milk products from The Family Cow in Chambersburg, is urged to throw them away.

Raw milk and raw-milk cheese from a retail store and online for pick-up at more than 50 locations in Pennsylvania may be contaminated with the Salmonella bacteria.

The Family Cow products are available for pick up in nearly 20 locations in Western PA.

Samples were tested this month and were confirmed to be contaminated with Salmonella, “following a recent spike in reported salmonella infections that included those who ate and drank the dairy’s unpasteurized milk products,” the agriculture department said in its public warning.

“Raw milk sold in plastic pint, half-gallon, and gallon containers as well as a variety of cheese products were sold at the farm’s store at 3854 Olde Scotland Road in Chambersburg, Franklin County and at additional retail locations that could not be confirmed by the business,” the Department of Agriculture said. “Product were also sold to online customers at yourfamilyfarmer.com for pick-up at locations statewide.”

Federal law prohibits the sale of unpasteurized, raw milk across state lines.

about Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.

Anyone who has consumer any of the implicated raw milk products and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.

Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.