Listeria in soft cheese has been the source of two deadly multistate food poisoning outbreaks so far this year. Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a three-state outbreak linked to Oasis cheeses that killed one person and sickened two others. And, in March, an outbreak linked to Roos Cheese sickened eight people in Maryland and California, killing one of them. Soft cheeses, such as queso fresco, are often associated with Listeria monocytogenes which can grow in at room temperature and in refrigerator temperatures. Pregnant women are at special risk for Listeria, which can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth and listeriosis in newborns. In the Oasis outbreak, one illness was related to a pregnancy and was diagnosed in a newborn. The … [Read more...]
Listeria Causes Three Deadly Multistate Outbreaks in 2014
A Listeria outbreak linked to mung bean sprouts is one of three deadly multistate outbreaks in 2014. And all three of the deadly outbreaks were caused by was Listeria. A rare and deadly foodborne pathogen, Listeria is often associated with ready-to-eat deli meats, soft cheeses and smoked fish. Of the 1,600 people diagnosed with listeriosis each year, 1,500 require hospitalization and 260 die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Listeria poses a special risk for children, seniors, pregnant women and others with compromised immune systems. Among pregnant women, listeriosis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery and birth defects. "These cases are so sad," said Fred Pritzker, Food Poisoning Bulletin publisher and food safety attorney who … [Read more...]
FDA: Clean Your Fridge If You Bought Cheese Recalled for Listeria
A Listeria outbreak linked to soft, Mexican-style cheese has killed one person and sickened two others. Several Lacteos Santa Martha cheeses made by Oasis Brands Inc. with best by dates of 7/14 through 12/31/14 have been recalled. (Click previous link to see full list.) Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled cheeses should not eat them as they risk serious or life-threatening injury if they do. Consumers who have purchased the the recalled cheese need to do a thorough cleaning of their refrigerators and kitchens by following these steps recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Listeria monocytogenes can grow in cold temperatures, so the longer cheese or any other a ready-to-eat food has been stored in the refrigerator, the more potential there is for the … [Read more...]
Listeria Outbreak Linked to Roos Cheeses Ends
The Listeria outbreak linked to Roos cheeses has ended, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Eight people in two states were sickened, one of them died. No new cases were added since the outbreak was announced on February 21. Seven of the cases were in Maryland, the fatality was in California. Three of the victims were newborns, two mothers of the newborns were also sickened. All of the patients were Hispanic and all but one of them required hospitalization. Adults associated with this outbreak reported eating soft or semi-soft Hispanic-style cheese before they became sick. Three of them said they had purchased Roos cheese. All of them shopped at different locations of same grocery store chain, Mega Mart. Tests of Roos cheese products made repackaged … [Read more...]
Costco Uses Shopper Cards to Notify Members of Listeria Recall
Costco is using member card information to notify its customers of the recall for Parkers Farm products that may be contaminated with Listeria. Costco emailed members who purchased the recalled products warning them of the potential danger. The peanut butter and cheese products were sold under the brand names Parkers Farm, Parkers, Happy Farms, Central Markets, Hy-Top, Amish Classic, Say Cheez, Win Schuler, and Bucky Badger. Some of the products were sold for food service and may have been used in deli or other prepared foods. To see a complete list of recalled products, click here. Costco is one of a number of stores affected by the recall. Other stores where the recalled products were sold include: Hy-Vee, Cub, Rainbow, Byerly’s, Lunds, Target, Whole Foods, Price Chopper, Nash … [Read more...]
Help! I Bought Cheese That Is Part of a Recall for Listeria
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shut down operations at Roos Foods Inc. of Kenton, DE yesterday by suspending the company's food facility registration. FDA inspectors found unsanitary conditions at the dairy foods processing company which has been linked to a Listeria outbreak that has sickened eight people, killing one of them. Consumers who have purchased Roos cheese, sour cream or other dairy products from the company, where inspectors found roof water raining down onto the equipment in the cheese processing room, rusty equipment and standing water on the floor, should not eat them. Unlike other foodborne pathogens, Listeria can thrive in cool temperatures. All lots and product sizes of the following Roos products have been recalled: Santa Rosa de Lima Queso Duro … [Read more...]
Roos foods retira del mercado queso por contaminación con Listeria
La compañía Roos Foods retira del mercado voluntariamente una variedad de quesos por la posibilidad que los quesos son contaminados con Listeria monocytogenes. Ocho personas se han enfermado después de consumir queso de Roos y una persona ha muerto. Roos Foods, ubicado en Kenton, Delaware, retira del mercado todos los lotes de los quesos vendaron debajo de la marca Mexicana (Cuajada en Terrón, Cuajada/Cuajadita Cacera, Cuajada Fresca, Queso Fresco Redondo, Queso Duro Viejo, Quesos Duros), Amigo (Cuajada En Terrón, Cuajada/Cuajadita Cacera, Cuajada Fresca, Queso Fresca Redondo, Queso Duro Viejo, Quesos Duros), Santa Rosa de Lima (Cuajada en Terrón, Cuajada/Cuajadita Cacera, Cuajada Fresca, Queso Fresco Redondo, Queso Duro Viejo, Quesos Duros), y Anita (Queso Fresco). Llama ahora para … [Read more...]
Roos Expands Cheese Recall For Possible Listeria
Roos Foods of Kenton, DE is expanding its recall of cheeses that may be contaminated with the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. The recall now includes all lots of Amigo and Mexicana brands of Requesón part-skim ricotta in 15 oz. and 16 oz. plastic containers and all lots of Amigo, Mexicana and Santa Rosa De Lima brands of Queso de Huerta (fresh curd cheese). These cheese and others, listed below, were sold at Megamart and other grocery stores in Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C. They are being recalled in association with a Listeria outbreak that has sickened seven people in Maryland and killed one person in California. In addition to the cheeses listed above, all lots of the following cheese are being recalled: Cuajada En Terron, Cuajada/Cuajadita Cacera, Cuajada Fresca, Queso … [Read more...]
Listeria in Cheese Sold at Megamart Sickens 7, Kills 1 No Recall
Listeria in soft cheeses sold at Megamart stores has killed one person in California and sickened seven others in Maryland since August, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Seven people have been hospitalized. A recall has not been issued. The contaminated soft cheeses including queso fresco were made by Roos Foods of Kenton, Delaware and repackaged by Megamart, which describes itself as a 100 percent Latino supermarket. Megamart has five stores in Maryland located in Silver Spring, Hyattsville, Riverdale, Rockville, Gaithersburg and one in Manassas, Virginia. All of the cases patients in this outbreak are Hispanic. On February 15, Virginia's agriculture department announced it had found Listeria monocytogenes, in a sample of Cuajada en Terron (Fresh … [Read more...]
Texas Cheese Listeria Update Highlights Advanced Technique
Now that a Texan has contracted listeriosis linked to the Crave Brothers cheese Listeria outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced a new phase of its investigation into the dangerous cluster of food poisoning illnesses. In an announcement from Atlanta this week, the CDC said it has employed the advanced technology of whole genome sequencing to more accurately define the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes. This highly discriminatory subtyping method will help clarify which patients' illnesses across the country are related to the outbreak, which now has six confirmed case patients. Listeria lawyer Fred Pritzker, whose food poisoning law firm has been conducting its own investigation of the outbreak, applauded the move as a potential harbinger of better … [Read more...]
