To date, two Minnesota residents have contracted Listeria food poisoning (listeriosis) after eating Les Freres cheese produced by Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese Company. One of Minnesota victim died. Prompted by this outbreak, Crave Brothers issued a recall of some of its cheese products, including Les Freres (LF225 2/2.5#), Petit Frère (PF88 8/8 oz) and Petit Frère with Truffles (PF88T 8/8 oz), all with a make date of 7-1-13 or earlier. “Crave Brothers is legally responsible for any Listeria cases linked to its cheese,” said Fred Pritzker, a Minnesota food safety lawyer who represents Listeria clients nationwide in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against food processors, retailers, restaurants and others. Fred recently won $45,000,000.00 for clients injured by another … [Read more...]
Missouri Milk Board Destroys Morningland Dairy Cheese
The State Milk Board of Missouri has destroyed 30,000 pounds of cheese made by Morningland Dairy. A court battle has been ongoing about the cheese for the last two and a half years. According to court documents, the state obtained a final order of permanent injunction against the dairy in February 2011. The order stated that the plaintiff demonstrated "no adequate remedy at law exists such that a permanent injunction is necessary to prevent immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage." Morningland of the Ozarks LLC was ordered to destroy all of its cheese products condemned by the Missouri State Milk Board on August 26, 2010. The Dairy refused to comply with that order, so in October 2010 Attorney General Koster brought an injunction against the Dairy. In August 2010, … [Read more...]
Attorney Calls for Transparency in Ricotta Salata Listeria Outbreak Investigation
Attorney Fred Pritzker, who is representing two people who were sickened in the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to imported Frescolina ricotta salata cheese, called on the CDC, FDA, and state health departments to name all of the cheeses, manufacturers, distributors, retail outlets, and restaurants who may have sold the cheese. Pritzker said, "Admittedly, health agencies must utilize discretion in identifying companies and products implicated in outbreaks. However, the health of consumers must drive these disclosures, not the financial implications for companies in the supply chain of adulterated products." The cheese, which was distributed by Forever Cheese, Inc. of New York, has been recalled by Whole Foods, Kroger Foods, and the FDA. It is linked to an outbreak which, … [Read more...]
Kroger Recalls Ricotta Salata for Possible Listeria Contamination
Kroger is recalling ricotta salata cheese "affected in QFC stores" because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. This is part of the larger recall of the Frescolina brand ricotta salata made by Forever cheese that has sickened at least 14 people in 11 states and killed two. The outbreak was announced by the CDC on September 11, 2012. The cheese comes from one batch that was produced in Italy and imported to the United States. The FDA found the outbreak strain of the bacteria in an uncut sample of the cheese. Since the cheese can have a four-month shelf-life, and it was sold between June 20 and August 9, 2012, some customers may still have the cheese in their refrigerators. It's possible that cross-contamination has occurred at some point along the distribution chain, which … [Read more...]
CDC Report On Cheese Listeria Outbreak Raises More Questions Than Answers
A recall for cheese linked to Listeria illnesses posted Monday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided little information about the outbreak that has sickened 14 people and killed two. One day later, a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) filled in some gaps but it also raised questions, according to a national food safety advocate. "Forever Cheese is recalling cheese sold to distributors between June 20 and August 9, 2012, yet the CDC Epi Curve clearly shows that many outbreak illnesses occurred long before the recall period. This implies that more product was implicated," said Fred Pritzker, food safety attorney and advocate. Pritzker is referring to the bar graph included in all CDC outbreak reports that shows when samples from sick … [Read more...]
Whole Foods Recalls Cheese For Possible Listeria Contamination
Whole Foods is recalling Ricotta Salata cheese that may be contaminated with Listeria moncytogenes. The cheese has been linked to a Listeria outbreak that has sickened 14 people in 11 states and killed two. The recalled cheese was cut into wedges, wrapped in clear plastic and sold with a Whole Foods Market label with the PLU number 293427. All wedges with "sell by” dates through Oct. 2 are included in the recall. This cheese has a four-month shelf life. Consumers who have purchased it at any time in recent months should and still have it on hand should not eat it. All 14 of the case patients in this outbreak required hospitalization. Three people died, but for one of them, listeriosis was not considered a contributing factor. Symptoms of a Listeria infection include fever, … [Read more...]
Lebanon Cheese Fined For Selling Cheese Made With Condemned Milk
The owner of Lebanon Cheese Company, who knowingly purchased condemned milk and used it to make cheese which was sold to a food market in Wyomissing Pa., has been ordered to serve four years probation and pay a $10,000 fine. The company has also been ordered to pay a fine of $200,000, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Joseph G. Lotito, of Annandale,NJ, and Lebanon Cheese pleaded guilty to the interstate shipment of adulterated ricotta cheese, a violation of the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, on May 31, 2012 and were sentenced July 31, 2012. From 2008 through July 2009, Lebanon Cheese purchased for a reduced price at least 20 loads of condemned milk from D.A. Landis Trucking, Inc. and used it to make cheese which it later … [Read more...]
Listeria Contamination Prompts Expanded Recall Of Mexicali Cheese
Problems persist at Mexicali Cheese Corp. where Listeria contamination has prompted an expanded recall of cheese products, according to the New York State Department of Agriculture (NYDA). On July 2, the NYDA announced an expansion of a recall that was issued June 29 after Listeria monocytogenes was discovered in cheese samples taken during routine inspection. There are now four cheeses under recall for possible Listeria contamination: Mexicali Queso Fresco Mexicano, Mexican Style Fresh Cheese; Acatlan Queso Fresco, Fresh Cheese; Mi Quesito Mexicano, Mexican Cheese; and Quesillo Ecuatoriano, Ecuadorian Style Cheese. Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections. Pregnant women are among those who are most susceptible, although they may only experience … [Read more...]
Another Washington Cheesemaker Ordered To Suspend Operations on Listeria Fears
Within the last 18 months, two cheese companies in Washington state were ordered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to keep all of their products off the market until they could show they had developed a means to keep their products and facilities free of Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria is a foodborne pathogen that can cause serious, sometimes fatal infections. In 2011, a cantaloupe Listeria outbreak sickened 146 people, killed 30 and caused one miscarriage. “If contamination is present in a processing facility, the chances are good that the contamination will find its way into the product as well,” FDA Public Affairs Officer, Pat El-Hinnawy, told Food Poisoning Bulletin this week. Last week, the owners of Del Bueno, of Grandview, Wash. agreed to the terms of an April 3 … [Read more...]
