The Public Health Agency of Canada is now investigating 23 cases of people sickened with E. coli O157:H7 in that country. Raw milk cheese products manufactured by Gort’s Gouda Cheese Farm in Salmon Arm, British Columbia have been identified as the source of the illnesses.
People started getting sick in Mid-July. The recalled products are listed at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) web site. There is no indication of widespread risk to Canadians, but E. coli O157:H7 is a dangerous pathogen that can pose a serious public health risk.
The case count by province/territory is as follows: British Columbia (11), Alberta (9), Saskatchewan (1), Manitoba (1), and Quebec (1). One person in British Columbia has died.
If you purchased any of the recalled cheeses, do not eat them. Check your refrigerator. If you have any of the recalled product, return it to the store or throw it out. To protect yourself, wash your hands before and after cooking, avoid cross-contamination, refrigerate leftovers promptly, do not eat undercooked ground meats, poultry, and eggs, and avoid raw milk products.
Symptoms of an E. coli O157:H7 infection include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, which may be watery/and or bloody, vomiting, and mild fever. Symptoms usually last five to ten days. About 5 to 10% of those who contract this infection develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), an acute renal failure that can be fatal. Children and the elderly are most at risk of developing HUS.
Was the cheese aged properly? Any idea of the cause yet? Just wondering.
Aging raw milk cheese does not guarantee that it won’t contain pathogenic bacteria. In the US, the FDA is reviewing raw milk cheese aging regulations and may extend the 60-day required aging period or rescind the regulation completely because it’s not effective enough.
Thanks Linda! I will be very interested in the results of the FDA’s review. Please post any information when it becomes available.