FARMINGTON — Sandy River Farm Market is recalling whole milk sold in pint, half-gallon and gallon sizes with a code of “11-14” on the cap.

The recall is based on routine product testing at the department, which found the product did not achieve proper pasteurization during processing and could have allowed pathogens to survive in the product, according to a news release from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation Forestry. 

“There were no pathogens found in the milk,” John Bott, media spokesperson for the Maine agricultural department. “They just couldn’t say for sure that pasteurization reached its full potential so to be safe, they took a voluntary recall.”

Pasteurization is the “process of heating a liquid to below the boiling point to destroy microorganisms,” according to an online definition.

No illnesses have been reported and the processor is cooperating with the recall.

Consumers are urged to discard or return the milk to the store where purchased.

The milk was sold to customers at Sandy River Farm Market on Route 2/Farmington Falls Road and Tranten’s Market on Main Street.

The recall is “out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety for its customers,” according to the news release.

The department does regular testing on Maine farms each year, Bott said. Four or five random tests per farm are done throughout the year.

Sandy River Farms, an organic dairy at 560 Farmington Falls Road owned for more than 60 years by the York family, started processing and bottling its own milk under its farm label in 2011.

At that time, L. Herbert York told the Sun Journal that he believed the “old fashioned” way they process the milk — by slowly heating it and holding it there for half an hour — retains the flavor better than the instant-heat method used at commercial processing plants.

Neither market owners Erik and Trudy Johnson nor York were available to respond to calls Monday.

Customers with questions should contact Erik Johnson at 207-778-9448.

abryant@sunmediagroup.net