We hate to say "I told you so," but sometimes the truth demands it.
As 2025 was coming to an end, news broke that two people had become ill from drinking raw milk from Country Cousins (Horning Family Farms LLC), one of the raw milk farms we investigated in upstate New York months earlier. The milk tested positive for dangerous Campylobacter bacteria.
This is exactly what we warned about in a letter to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets two weeks before the outbreak.
Our "Unpasteurized" investigation revealed not only animal welfare concerns at this facility—cows with painful infections still being milked, animals chained so tightly they couldn't turn around—but also poor hygiene and dirty conditions that we believed posed a serious public health risk. We specifically alerted state authorities about our concerns that Country Cousins was selling milk from cows with mastitis, an inflammation of the mammary gland typically caused by bacterial infection.
While state officials opened an investigation, reality quickly caught up. NYS Ag&Mkts since confirmed Campylobacter contamination in Country Cousins' raw milk—bacteria that can cause severe illness including bloody diarrhea, fever, and in some cases, life-threatening complications.
As a result, Country Cousins was prohibited from selling any raw milk until subsequent sampling could prove their product is free of Campylobacter. However, this temporary measure doesn't address the fundamental issue—this could easily happen again, at Country Cousins or any other raw milk producer. What's most troubling is that while raw milk is marketed as "natural" and "healthful," it provides no benefits for animals or people. The cows at these "family farms" suffer just as much as those at industrial facilities, and raw milk poses a significant risk to human health.
Chunks in the milk indicating mastitis infection
This is the dangerous reality behind the pastoral image that raw milk producers carefully cultivate—and exactly why our investigations are so crucial. Will you help us continue this vital work by making a donation today?
Â
Your support enables our team to document hidden conditions, alert authorities to violations, and challenge the marketing myths of "humane" animal agriculture.
The truth is clear: There is no humane way to produce dairy, and the same bacteria raw milk advocates praise are the ones making people sick.
If you know anyone who's gotten sick from drinking raw milk in Upstate New York, they are welcome to reach out to our legal team.
For the animals and human health,
Ben Williamson
Executive Director
Â
P.S. Want to help expose animal suffering year-round? Become a monthly donor today.
As a non-profit organization, Animal Outlook relies on donations from caring, generous people like you. Every dollar matters. Your support makes a world of difference to farmed animals. Â
