CONSUMER ALERT: Campylobacter jejuni Contamination in Raw Milk in Jefferson County

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) Commissioner Richard A. Ball today warned consumers in Jefferson County and the surrounding area not to consume unpasteurized raw milk from Horning Family Farms LLC due to possible Campylobacter jejuni contamination. Horning Family Farms LLC is located at 29415 Fults Road, Evan Mills, NY 13637. On December 15, 2025, the New York State Department of Health reported two illnesses to AGM with possible associations to consuming raw milk purchased from Horning Family Farms LLC.

In response, a sample of raw milk was collected by an inspector from AGM and was discovered to be contaminated with Campylobacter jejuni. On December 19, 2025, the producer was notified of a preliminary positive test result. Further laboratory testing, completed on December 22, 2025, confirmed the presence of Campylobacter jejuni in the raw milk sample. The producer is now prohibited from selling raw milk until subsequent sampling indicates that the product is free of harmful bacteria.

AGM recommends that any consumers who purchased raw milk from Horning Family Farms LLC immediately dispose of it and call the farm at (315) 629-2401. The raw milk is labeled and sold as Country Cousins Farm Raw Cow Milk.

People with Campylobacter jejuni infection usually have diarrhea (often bloody), fever, and stomach cramps. Nausea and vomiting may accompany the diarrhea. These symptoms usually start two to five days after the person ingests Campylobacter jejuni and last about one week. Sometimes Campylobacter jejuni infections cause complications, such as irritable bowel syndrome, temporary paralysis, and arthritis. In people with weakened immune systems, such as those with a blood disorder, with a compromised immune system, or who are receiving chemotherapy, Campylobacter jejuni occasionally spreads to the bloodstream and causes a life-threatening infection.

It is important to note that raw milk does not provide the protection of pasteurization. Pasteurization is a process that heats milk to a specific temperature for a specific amount of time. Pasteurization kills the bacteria responsible for numerous illnesses and diseases such as listeriosis, salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, diphtheria, and brucellosis. Pasteurization of milk is recognized internationally as an effective means of preventing outbreaks of foodborne illnesses, including campylobacteriosis.