Salmonella Outbreak Prompts Pennsylvania Recall of Raw Milk, Cheese

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has issued urgent warnings to consumers to discard raw milk and raw-milk cheese products from The Family Cow brand sold at its Chambersburg retail store and over 50 pickup locations statewide due to contamination with Salmonella bacteria. Testing in July confirmed the presence of Salmonella following a spike of over 70 reported infections since August 2024 linked to consumption of these unpasteurized dairy products. The recalled products include various sizes and varieties of milk and cheese, such as cheddar, Colby, garlic and chives cheddar, and shredded cheese blends. Salmonella infection symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, with young children, elderly adults, and immunocompromised individuals at higher risk for severe illness. Separately, another recall targets Byers Organic Dairy raw milk sold in Mercersburg due to contamination with Shigatoxin-producing E. coli, with no reported illnesses yet but classified as a Class I health hazard. These incidents highlight ongoing public health concerns surrounding raw milk consumption, which despite state regulations, carries risks of dangerous bacterial contamination.