New York Ag Department warns of raw milk contamination in Jefferson County

JEFFERSON COUNTY- New York’s Ag Commissioner Richard A. Ball is warning consumers in Jefferson County and surrounding area not to consume unpasteurized raw milk from Horning Family Farms LLC due to possible Campylobacter jejuni contamination.

To clarify, Horning Family Farms is based out of Evans Mills, NY. 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.

Positive test results were confirmed in the days shortly after and, for now, the producer will be prohibited from selling raw milk until further samples indicate their product is free from harmful bacteria.

Agriculture officials recommend anyone who recently 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.

Dairy cow image.