Potsdam, N.Y., dairy’s unpasteurized milk contaminated

The unpasteurized “raw” milk from a Potsdam, N.Y., dairy may be contaminated with salmonella and should not be drunk.

Health officials in New York said routine samples of raw milk from Laing Fair in Potsdam showed the presence of Salmonella bacteria. The samples were taken on April 6. Four days later, the dairy was informed of the positive test and voluntarily agreed to halt its raw milk sales.

Like in many states that allow dairies to sell unpasteurized milk, the presence of contamination means the dairy operator must recall its products and have multiple tests confirm the bacteria has been removed from their facilities.

Pasteurizing milk removes a lot of harmful pathogenic bacteria. Salmonella poisoning can become a serious and fatal condition, especially in the young, old and those with compromised immune systems.