Consumers are being warned that raw goat milk cheese made by the Maiden’s Creamery in New York may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets released a statement about this issue.
The dairy is located at 1277 Copes Corner Road in South New Berlin in South Berlin in Chenango County, New York. The cheese tasted positive for the pathogenic bacteria during routine sampling conducted at the Division of Milk Control and Dairy Services on February 20, 2018. The dairy was notified about the positive result on February 23, 2018, and the product was recalled voluntarily. Then on March 2, 2018, the test results were confirmed.
The recalled cheese is packaged in different sized sealed flexible plastic packaging. The plant number on the product is 36-1315, and the code is 101. The raw goat milk cheese was sold at the Sunflower Natural Foods Market at 75 Mill Hill Road in Woodstock starting on January 10, 2018. It was also sold at the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market at 101 Main Street in late December 2o17 and early January 2018.
If you purchased this Maiden’s Creamery raw goat milk cheese, do not eat it. Throw it away in a sealed container, or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
It’s important to then clean out your refrigerator or freezer with a mild bleach solution to make sure that any bacteria are destroyed. A combination of one tablespoon liquid chlorine bleach and one gallon of warm water is effective. Clean the appliance’s shelves and walls, and wipe down product packages. Then rinse with clear water and dry. Wash your hands throughly with soap and water after using this product and after cleaning.
If you ate any of these cheeses, watch yourself for the symptoms of listeriosis, the illness caused by this bacteria, for 70 days. The symptoms include high fever, stiff neck, severe headache, muscle stiffness, and diarrhea. Pregnant women need to be especially careful with this illness, since it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature labor, and a serious infection in the newborn. If you do feel sick, contact your doctor and tell him you ate this recalled product.
