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New York officials have warned consumers not to drink raw milk from Big Brook Farm in Lee Center after state testing found Listeria monocytogenes. The farm cannot sell raw milk until testing shows it is free of the pathogen; no illnesses had been confirmed as of Oct. 1, 2026.
New York officials have barred Big Brook Farm from selling raw milk after a state sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria that can cause serious infection. The state warned consumers on Sept. 30 not to drink the farm’s milk; as of Oct. 1, no illnesses had been confirmed.
According to the warning reported by Food Safety News, a state inspector collected a milk sample from the dairy, and testing returned a positive result. Follow-up testing confirmed the presence of Listeria. The farm is prohibited from selling raw milk until tests show the product is free of the pathogen.
The warning identifies Big Brook Farm in Lee Center and advises the public not to consume its raw milk. The report does not give a product lot number, package size, purchase dates, distribution locations, or an estimate of how much milk may have been sold. It also does not specify whether the farm has issued a separate recall or how consumers should arrange a refund or disposal.
The state’s reported illness status is current only through Oct. 1. Food Safety News said symptoms of Listeria infection can take as long as 70 days to develop, so the absence of confirmed cases at that point does not establish that no one was exposed or will become ill.
Why the Milk Sales Ban Matters
The sales ban prevents the farm from continuing to offer raw milk while the state’s testing requirement remains unmet. Raw milk has not been pasteurized, a process used to kill harmful bacteria. Listeria can contaminate food without changing its appearance, smell, or taste, meaning consumers may not be able to identify unsafe milk by inspecting it.
Listeriosis can be severe, especially for pregnant people, older adults, young children, and people with weakened immune systems. The source report lists possible symptoms including nausea, vomiting, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Infection during pregnancy can pose risks to the pregnancy and newborn, even when the pregnant person has only mild symptoms.
Anyone who drank the implicated milk and develops symptoms should seek medical care and tell the clinician about the possible exposure, according to the public health advice in the report. Diagnosis requires laboratory testing because listeriosis may resemble other illnesses. People who drank the milk should remain alert for symptoms during the period when illness could emerge.
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Farm’s Earlier Listeria Warning
The current warning follows a similar one involving Big Brook Farm in 2024, when testing also found Listeria monocytogenes in the farm’s milk, according to Food Safety News. The report does not describe the circumstances of that earlier finding or say whether the current test is connected to it.
New York Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball issued the Sept. 30 warning, the outlet reported. The reported enforcement condition is that sales remain prohibited until testing shows the milk is pathogen-free. The source material does not provide further details on the state’s sampling schedule, the number of tests required, or any additional regulatory steps.
Raw milk can carry pathogens such as Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli because it has not undergone pasteurization. The warning concerns milk from this named farm; the available information does not identify other products or farms as affected.
“The state sample of the dairy’s milk returned a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes, and follow-up testing confirmed the bacteria.”
— New York Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball, as reported by Food Safety News
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Exposure and Illness Details Pending
It is not clear from the reported information how much milk was sold, when it was sold, or where it was distributed. No lot codes, packaging details, or consumer instructions for contacting the farm are included. The available report also does not state whether the farm has notified customers directly.
No illnesses had been confirmed as of Oct. 1, but that status could change as health officials receive reports and investigate possible cases. The reported incubation period can extend to 70 days, and the warning does not provide details on whether any people have reported symptoms or undergone testing.
The source material does not specify when the farm will be tested again, how many negative results officials require, or when sales could resume. It also does not describe any investigation into how the milk became contaminated.
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Testing Required Before Sales Resume
Big Brook Farm must remain out of the raw milk market until testing shows its milk is free of the pathogen, according to the report. No date for the next test or expected decision has been announced in the source material. Officials’ future test results will determine whether the restriction remains in place.
Consumers who have the farm’s raw milk should avoid drinking it and watch for symptoms in the weeks after possible exposure. Anyone who becomes ill should contact a health care provider and mention the possible Listeria exposure. Further updates may clarify distribution, customer guidance, and whether any illnesses are reported.
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Key Questions
Which farm’s raw milk is affected?
The warning names Big Brook Farm in Lee Center, New York. The reported notice advises consumers not to drink its raw milk.
Why was the farm barred from selling raw milk?
A milk sample collected by a state inspector tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, and follow-up testing confirmed the bacteria. The farm cannot sell raw milk until testing shows it is pathogen-free.
Have any illnesses been confirmed?
No illnesses had been confirmed as of Oct. 1, 2026, according to Food Safety News. That status may change, and Listeria symptoms can take up to 70 days to develop.
What should someone do after drinking the milk?
Anyone who develops symptoms after possible exposure should seek medical care and tell the clinician about the possible Listeria exposure. Symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, severe headache, or neck stiffness.
When can the farm sell raw milk again?
The farm may not sell raw milk until tests show the product is free of the pathogen. The report does not give a date for further testing or say when sales might resume.
Source: rss
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