Green Fields Farms Dairy, located in Fredericksburg, Ohio, announced a recall of its whole chocolate milk due to it not being properly pasteurized. Over 1,000 items were recalled in nine states, according to the FDA press release on September 20th.
The pasteurization process involves heating up the raw, chilled milk and holding it at the temperature for about 15 seconds before quickly cooling it back down to its original temperature. This is an important step to ensure harmful bacteria are eliminated before the milk goes to market.
According to the CDC, “Raw milk can carry harmful bacteria and other germs that can make you very sick or kill you. While it is possible to get foodborne illnesses from many different foods, raw milk is one of the riskiest of all.”
The defective product was distributed in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware, and Washington D.C. from Sept. 7 through Sept. 16, 2021. There are concerns about the milk since it has a code date of 9/29, which means some people may still have this product on hand, or worse, consumed it.
At this time, there haven’t been any reported cases of foodborne illness directly tied to the affected milk. However, if you’re exhibiting any symptoms of food poisoning and think you may have had unpasteurized milk, please go see your doctor!
If you have purchased this product, please return it to the place of purchase to receive a refund. Consumers with questions may call 330-263-0248.