Small Dairy's Milk Likely Caused Deaths

State health officials warned consumers not to drink milk produced by a Massachusetts dairy, saying it was the likely source of a bacterial illness that killed two men and sickened two others.

The Department of Public Health issued the warning Thursday after identifying four cases of listeriosis Health. Two of the victims, a 78-year-old man and a 75-year-old man, died in June and October.

The dairy has a processing plant in Shrewsbury and operates two retail stores. A message left on an answering machine at the Sutton store said it was closed and that information to date was "Inconclusive Health." The message said the owners would be addressing the issue as soon as possible.

Whittier Farms' milk products are sold under several brand names, including Whittier, Schultz, Balance Rock, Spring Brook, Health and Maple, state health officials said.