LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — Miller's Organic Farm is now facing a lawsuit for repeated violations of laws and regulations surrounding the sale of raw milk products.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced the lawsuit on Tuesday.
The complaint alleges that Miller's Organic Farm failed to obtain proper licenses and permits, sold illegal raw milk products and sold raw milk products outside of Pennsylvania.
According to the Department of AG, these offenses put the farm in violation of Pennsylvania’s Milk Sanitation Law, Food Safety Act, Retail Food Facility Safety Act, and Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.
The legal action comes just weeks after the PA Department of Agriculture and Pennsylvania State Police served a search warrant of the farm following recent reports of food-borne illnesses traced back to the facility.
READ MORE: Farm raided due to illnesses caused by raw dairy products in Lancaster Co.
Henry said officials have tried for years to bring the farm into compliance with state laws.
According to a press release, the farm was court ordered in 2019 to comply with Pennsylvania licensing requirements and relevant food codes after being found in violation of federal laws regarding meat and poultry handling.
The release says the farm continued to act out of compliance, and in August of 2023, Miller agreed to a consent decree.
The Attorney General said that in the decree, Miller confirmed his “independent responsibility for complying with relevant provisions of the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
According to Henry, samples of the farm's raw milk and raw milk products tested positive earlier this month for Listeria — a bacteria that can pose serious health risks to young children, the elderly and immuno-compromised individuals.
“For years, this business has brushed off efforts to bring its commercial farm operation into compliance with the law — as all commercial farms are required to do,” Attorney General Henry said in the press release. “We cannot ignore the illnesses and further potential harm posed by distribution of these unregulated products. We have long had food safety laws in this Commonwealth to protect the public from harm. Pennsylvanians should know what is in the products they and their families are consuming.”
The full lawsuit can be seen below.
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