Loading...
A significant recall has been issued by Prairie Farms, an Illinois-based dairy brand, after concerns arose over potential chemical contamination in some of its milk products.
The company revealed that several lots of fat-free milk, produced at its Dubuque, Iowa facility, may have been tainted with food-grade cleaning agents, which pose health risks if consumed, per the Daily Mail.
Food-grade cleaning agents are substances designed for safe use on equipment and surfaces that come into contact with food during the production, packaging, or preparation stages.
While these chemicals are considered safe for contact with food surfaces, they are not meant to be ingested. If consumed in concentrated forms, they can cause severe health issues such as chemical burns in the mouth and throat, nausea, vomiting, and even poisoning.
While food-grade cleaning agents are intended to be non-toxic in trace amounts, drinking milk contaminated with higher levels of these chemicals could lead to serious symptoms like stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea.
In extreme cases, high concentrations can result in severe abdominal pain, kidney damage, and metabolic disturbances.
The issue came to light on November 24, when Prairie Farms became aware of potential contamination in the milk. The company acted swiftly, launching an investigation and issuing a recall the following day on November 25.
According to the company, the contamination occurred during a specific three-hour window at the facility, but details on how the milk became tainted have not been disclosed.
Approximately 320 gallons of the affected milk had already been distributed to stores in Illinois and Wisconsin before the recall was initiated.
The milk was sold in several cities across both states, and Prairie Farms has assured the public that all remaining affected products have been removed from store shelves.
The affected milk was distributed to several cities in both Illinois and Wisconsin. In Illinois, these included Bloomingdale, Buffalo Grove, Carpentersville, Lakemoor, North Aurora, and Rockford, among others.
In Wisconsin, the cities impacted included Appleton, Beloit, Green Bay, Janesville, Kenosha, Madison, Menomonee Falls, Oak Creek, Onalaska, Racine, Sun Prairie, and Waukesha.
Consumers who may have purchased the contaminated milk are urged to check the product’s code dates and plant codes to determine if they have the affected batches.
The recall specifically targets milk with the code date CEC08 and plant code PLT19-145, per the Independent.
Prairie Farms has advised customers who purchased the milk with these codes not to consume it. They can either return the product to the store for a refund or safely dispose of it.
As of now, Prairie Farms has reported that no illnesses have been linked to the recalled milk.
Despite this, the company emphasizes that any consumption of the contaminated product could lead to serious health consequences. As part of the recall, Prairie Farms urged consumers who purchased the affected milk to either return it or dispose of it properly.
To ensure safety, consumers who purchased fat-free milk from Prairie Farms with the affected codes should not consume it under any circumstances.
If you’ve already bought the milk, check for the listed codes and take immediate action to return or dispose of the product.
