Protecting families from contaminated food and water
All fields are required
Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Listeria,Outbreaks & Recalls on March 9, 2025
Another sample tested positive for Listeria in Willow Marsh Farm raw milk. Prompting a recall and halted production. This latest positive test result comes just over a month after the last consumer warning and recall for Listeria in Willow Marsh Farms raw milk.
Here’s what we know about the recall.
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets issued a consumer warning for risk of Listeria in Willow Marsh Farms raw milk products.
Raw Milk Consumer Warning
Willow Marsh Farm
343 Hop City Road, Ballston Spa, New York
From February 27, 2025 to March 4, 2025
The farm, under the name Charles B. Curtiss dba Willow Marsh Farm and located in Ballston Spa, New York in Saratoga County is the subject of a second consumer announcement this year for a Listeria monocytogenes detection in raw milk samples.
The Willow Marsh Farm was first notified on February 27, 2025 of the preliminary positive Listeria test result from the latest round of sampling. A preliminary test result is often the result of screening process to determine the presence of a broad range of pathogens (E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, etc.). Further laboratory testing confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes with more specific testing to determine the presence of that specific germ.
Willow Marsh Farm was notified of this result on March 4, 2025 and ordered to stop the sale of raw milk until further sampling activity indicated that the product was free of harmful bacteria.
This discovery is the second detection this year.
On January 30, 2025, the Farm was notified of a positive result and was ordered to cease the sale of raw milk products on February 4, 2025 until milk samples were free of the pathogen.
The farm was ordered during that time as well to cease the sale of raw milk products until test results were clean.
On March 4, 2025, Willow Marsh Farm issued a statement on their Facebook page.
“As many of you already know from the four signs we hung in the store this week, we had a presumptive lab result meaning we would not know for sure if this week’s test was positive or negative until today. The results are positive for Listeria.”
According to the post, the farm has been performing several tasks to cooperate with the investigation and prevent further raw milk sample contamination so that the prohibited sale can be lifted by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
The Curtiss Family indicates that they have done the following:
The statement said that the samples were “all tested, and it was all negative for two weeks.”
The Farm is replacing certain milking equipment parts, “just in case it is there.”
In compliance with the authorities, the statement included, “If you bought our raw milk between Wednesday, February 26th and Sunday, March 2nd I am required to ask you not to drink it.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health agencies strongly warns against consuming raw milk. Particularly for those in higher risk categories. According to the CDC, deaths and diarrheal illnesses in young children have shown a dramatic decline since pasteurization became mainstream in the early 1900’s.
The process of pasteurization heats the milk to a high enough temperature for a long enough time to kill harmful germs that might be present in the milk. Campylobacter, E. coli, Salmonella, and other bacteria, viruses, and parasites and in this case, Listeria. Pasteurization helps remove the risk of illness, while retaining most of the nutritional benefits found in the raw milk.
Anyone can become sick from drinking contaminated raw milk. Even normally healthy adults. However, there are some groups that are at higher risk for more infection and more severe illness.
Those at higher risk include:
People in these high-risk groups should never consume raw milk or products that have been made with raw milk that do not include a heating step sufficient to kill harmful bacteria.
Listeria monocytogenes is the bacteria responsible for the illness, listeriosis.
The most common cause?
Contaminated food.
The CDC estimates that around 1,600 people become sick with listeriosis each year. About 260 deaths are associated with this illness.
Listeriosis symptoms are a bit tricky. Symptoms vary based on whether a person is pregnant or not. Those who are pregnant often experience milder symptoms, though the bigger risk is to their fetus or newborn.
Pregnant people may experience fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, becoming sick with listeriosis while pregnant increases the chance of still birth, premature delivery, miscarriage, or life-threatening infection of their newborn.
Symptoms for those who are not pregnant often include headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Fever and muscle aches are also possible.
Most people recover from listeriosis on their own without medical intervention. For those in higher risk groups or experiencing severe infection, specialized antibiotics are prescribed. Hospitalization may also be necessary for serious illness.
If you consumed raw milk since January 30, 2025, you may have been exposed to Listeria. Consider the following to help protect yourself and your family.
If you consumed affected dairy products recently, you should monitor yourself for symptoms. Particularly if you are pregnant.
Symptoms usually begin within 24 hours of consuming contaminated food. For mild cases, symptoms usually resolve within three days.
If you become sick from consuming raw milk from Willow Marsh Farm, even if it falls outside of the indicated dates, you should retain product packaging. Product packaging and subsequent data can help investigators widen the scope of a recall if additional lots are included in the contamination event.
Your information can help prevent others from becoming sick.
If you become seriously ill, getting advice from an experienced Listeria Lawyer can give you some peace of mind. The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has successfully represented many families with cases just like yours.
Reach out for a free consultation to go over the details of your situation. Call (833) 330-3663 or click here to fill out the online submission.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)