newjerseynewsroom.com

Four brands sold in 38 stores around the state

The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs Thursday issued a consumer alert to advise New Jerseyans that Midland Farms, located in Menands, N.Y. is voluntarily recalling milk that may have been improperly pasteurization.

Proper pasteurization heats milk in order to effectively eliminate all pathogenic bacteria, such as listeria and salmonella. The recalled products were offered for sale in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

The recalled milk is sold in plastic containers and marketed under the brand names Midland Farms, Corrado's Market, Jersey Dairy Farms and Trade Fair Premium. All the containers possess the plant code 36-1661. The products also possess a black ink date code near the top of the container. The products involved in this recall include:

Gallons of:

• "Midland Farms Milk" with the date code SEP24
• "Midland Farms Reduced Fat, 2% Milk Fat Milk" with the date code SEP24
• "Midland Farms Low Fat, 1% Milk Fat Milk" with the date code SEP24
• "Midland Farms Fat Free Milk" with the date code SEP24
• "Corrado's Milk" with the date code SEP24
• "Corrado's Market Reduced Fat, 2% Milk Fat Milk" with the date code SEP24
• "Corrado's Market Low Fat 1% Milk Fat Milk" with the date code SEP24
• "Corrado's Market Fat Free Milk" with the date code SEP24
• "Jersey Dairy Farms Vitamin D Milk" with the date code SEP24
• "Trade Fair Premium Milk" with the date code SEP24
• "Trade Fair Premium Reduced Fat, 2% Milk Fat Milk" with the date code SEP24
• "Trade Fair Premium Low Fat, 1% Milk Fat Milk" with the date code SEP24
• "Trade Fair Premium Fat Free Milk" with the date code SEP24

Half-Gallons of:

• "Midland Farms Milk" with the date code SEP24
• "Midland Farms Reduced Fat, 2% Milk Fat Milk" with the date code SEP24
• "Midland Farms Low Fat, 1% Milk Fat Milk" with the date code SEP24
• "Midland Farms Fat Free Milk" with the date code SEP24
• "Jersey Dairy Farms Vitamin D Milk" with the date code SEP24

Quarts of:

• "Midland Farms Fresh Whole Milk" with SELLBY 9/24/10
• "Midland Farms Reduced Fat Milk" with SELLBY 9/24/10
• "Midland Farms Fresh Low Fat Milk" with SELLBY 9/24/10
• "Midland Farms Fresh Fat Free Milk" with SELLBY 9/24/10

Pints of:

• "Midland Farms Whole Milk" with SELLBY 9/24/10

The division learned that the problem was detected by the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets' milk inspectors during an inspection on Tuesday when they found a failure of pasteurization equipment at the Menands milk plant.

While the recalled milk has not been found to be contaminated with any harmful pathogens, the company has agreed to voluntarily recall all production as a precautionary measure.

Following New York's announcement of its recall action, the New Jersey Department of Health acted to determine which food stores operating in New Jersey are known to have received deliveries of the recalled milk.

According to the Department of Health, it has identified at least 38 stores in New Jersey and has alerted local health departments to promptly inspect them to ensure that the affected milk is not sold.

New Jerseyans who have purchased the milk are advised to return it to the place of purchase or discard it. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the milk. Residents are warned not to consume the milk even if it does not appear or smell spoiled.

Consumers with questions may contact Midland Farms directly at 518-436-7038.

For more information about the recall, consumers can go to Consumers who are interested in viewing the recalled products' labels, can go to:

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm225225.htm. The Division of Consumer Affairs may be contacted at: http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov or at 1-800-242-5846 or 973-504-6200.

— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM