Vulto Creamery of Walton, New York is recalling all lots of Ouleout, Miranda, Heinennellie, and Willowemoc soft wash-rind raw milk cheeses because testing from the FDA found Ouleout lot #617 positive for Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets found possible contamination in Ouleout lot #623. Production has been suspended while the FDA and the company investigate the problem.
If you purchased any of these soft, wash-rind raw milk cheeses, do not eat it. The cheeses were distributed nationwide. Most were sold at retail locations in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic States, California, Chicago, Portland and Washington, DC. Throw the cheese away in a sealed or double bagged package or take it back to the place of purchase for a refund.
Then clean out your refrigerator with a solution of one tablespoon liquid chlorine bleach to one gallon of warm water. Listeria monocytogenes bacteria can grow at temperatures below 40°F and freezing doesn’t kill it. Wash your hands well with soap and water after handling these cheeses.
If you ate any of these products, monitor yourself for the symptoms of listeriosis, the illness caused by this pathogenic bacteria, for the next 70 days. Those symptoms include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Pregnant women may only be mildly sick with flu-like symptoms, but listeriosis can cause miscarriage, premature labor, stillbirth, and infection in the newborn. If you do feel sick, see your doctor.
