RALEIGH, N.C. -- A Hillsborough dairy voluntarily issued a recall Thursday for milk products sold in six central North Carolina counties, saying they may contain excessive amounts of a cancer-causing agent.
Maple View Farm asked retailers in Alamance, Chatham, Durham, Lee, Orange and Wake counties to remove the products from their shelves, the state Department of Agriculture announced.
Routine sampling by the state detected levels of aflatoxin that exceeded federal limits. Aflatoxin, a naturally occurring chemical that comes from a fungus sometimes found on corn and other crops, can cause severe liver damage.
Joe Reardon, director of the state Food and Drug Protection Division, said no illnesses have been reported, but officials urge buyers of any of the products to return them to retailers or the company.
The products are Maple View Farm whole milk, skim milk, low-fat milk, chocolate milk, buttermilk and heavy whipping cream, all with a sell-by date of Aug. 25. The products were packaged in plastic pint containers, returnable glass quart containers and returnable glass half-gallon containers, all stamped on the cap with the sell-by date.