A Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has sickened two people in Rhode Island, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health. This outbreak has prompted officials to issue a health warning about unpasteurized queso fresco (Mexican cheese). Queso fresco is a type of soft Mexican cheese. All cheeses, including Queso fresco, queso blanco, panela, and asadero-style cheeses are only considered safe when they are marked with a professional label stating that they are "pasteurized" or "made from pasteurized milk." Homemade queso fresco is sometimes made with raw milk. Raw milk can be contaminated with pathogens that can cause serious illness. The pasteurization process kills pathogenic bacteria. The warning especially applies to pregnant women, who can suffer serious complications … [Read more...]
Vulto Creamery Raw Milk Cheese Listeriosis Outbreak Over
The multistate outbreak of listeriosis linked to Vulto Creamery soft raw milk cheese is over, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In all, eight people were sickened in four states. That is an increase of two more cases since the last update on March 13, 2017; both of those patients live in New York. All eight people were hospitalized because of their illness, and two people died, one from Connecticut and one from Vermont. One illness was reported in a newborn. The CDC is still recommending that consumers do not eat, restaurants do not serve, and retailers do not sell recalled raw milk cheeses made by Vulto Creamery. The raw milk cheeses from the Creamery were distributed nationwide. But most were sold at retail locations in the northeastern and … [Read more...]
Raw Milk Products Cause 840 Times More Illness Than Pasteurized Milk
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Emerging Infectious Diseases report for June 2017, unpasteurized milk products cause 840 times more illness and 45 times more hospitalizations than pasteurized milk products. Only about 3.2% of the population consume raw milk, and 1.6% of consumers eat raw cheese, but those products cause 96% of the illnesses linked to contaminated dairy products in this country. The number of states that allow raw milk sales increased to 30 in 2011, from 21 in 2004. Consumption of unpasteurized dairy products is becoming more popular, and this raises public health concerns. The bacteria in these products that have caused serious illness and death include E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Listeria monocytogenes. This increase … [Read more...]
Vulto Raw Cheese Listeria Outbreak: FDA’s Form 483 Released
The FDA has released Form 483 in their investigation of the Vulto Creamery raw cheese Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. That form is used when problems are found at a food facility. The creamery was inspected by government officials from 2/28/2017 - 3/22/2017. In all, Form 483 states that there were 15 observations where an issue was found during the FDA inspections. In the CDC's investigation of that multistate listeriosis outbreak, there were six people sickened by products made at that creamery. All of those six people were hospitalized. Two people from Connecticut and Vermont died, and one illness was reported in a newborn. The outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria was found in samples taken from three intact wheels of Ouleout cheese collected from Vulto Creamery. … [Read more...]
History of Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreaks Linked to Cheese
Listeria monocytogenes outbreaks don't occur very often. About 1,600 Americans are sickened every year by this pathogenic bacteria. But when they do occur people are seriously sickened and some die. So how many listeriosis outbreaks have been linked to cheeses? In the last five years, there have been six outbreaks linked to cheese products caused by this pathogenic bacteria. In five of the outbreaks, the cheeses were made from pasteurized milk, but were contaminated after that process. In the current outbreak, the cheeses were made from raw, or unpasteurized, milk. Most of these outbreaks are linked to soft cheeses. In 2015, a listeriosis outbreak linked to soft cheeses produced by Karoun Dairies of California sickened 30 people in 10 states, killing three and causing one … [Read more...]
Vulto Expands Recall of Raw Milk Cheeses for Listeria
Vulto Creamery of Walton, New York, has voluntarily expanded their recall of raw milk cheeses after their Ouleout cheese was linked to a deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. Six people have been sickened in this outbreak so far, and two of those patients have died. The previous recall included Heinnenellie, Miranda, Willowemoc, and Ouleout raw milk cheeses. The new recall adds Andes, Blue Blais, Hamden, and Walton Umber to the list. You can see pictures of the recalled cheeses on the FDA website along with product descriptions. These raw milk cheeses were distributed nationwide, with most sold at retail locations in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states and California. They were also sold in Chicago, Illinois; Portland, Oregon; and Washington, D.C. We don't know the dates of … [Read more...]
FDA On Vulto Creamery Ouleout Cheese Listeria Outbreak
The FDA has released information about its investigation into the deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to recalled Vulto raw milk soft cheeses. Ouleout cheese from that dairy in Walton, New York has been identified as the "likely source" of the outbreak that has sickened six people in four states. Two of those six people have died. The FDA, CDC, and state government agencies have been investigating this outbreak since January 31, 2017. Ouleout cheese from Vulto Creamery tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in early March, and the company began contacting its customers, asking them to return the product. On March 7, 2017, Vulto recalled that cheese along with Miranda, Heinennellie, and Willowemoc cheese varieties. Then, on March 8, 2017, the FDA was told that … [Read more...]
Whole Foods Recalled Vulto Creamery Cheese
The listeriosis outbreak linked to recalled Vulto washed-rind raw milk cheeses has sickened six people in four states. Two people have died in this outbreak. All six patients were hospitalized, including a newborn baby who was diagnosed with listeriosis. And there's a mystery in this Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. We don't know exactly where the recalled cheeses that caused these illnesses were sold. The Vulto Creamery cheese has been linked to the outbreak through whole genome sequencing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and epidemiological evidence. Labs in two states found the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes in Ouleout cheese. The New York Division of Milk Control and Dairy Services took three intact wheels of that type of cheese from the Vulto Creamery during an … [Read more...]
Two Dead, Six Ill in Vulto Raw Milk Cheese Listeria Outbreak
The CDC has announced a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak is linked to soft raw milk cheese produced by Vulto Creamery in Walton, New York. Two people have died and six are sickened in this outbreak. The case count by state is: New York (3), Florida (1), Vermont (1), and Connecticut (1). Illnesses began on September 1, 2016. All six patients were hospitalized. One person from Connecticut and one person from Vermont died. One illness was reported in a newborn. Infants can be born with Listeria monocytogenes infections when their mothers eat products contaminated with the bacteria. The bacteria can pass through the placenta because the mother's immune system response attacks the placenta. The outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes was identified in samples taken from three intact … [Read more...]
Blue Bell Wants to Ease Listeria Precautions
According to the Houston Chronicle, Blue Bell wants to drop the precautionary standards it put in place after the deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to its products was revealed in 2014. Ten people were sickened in that outbreak; the illnesses went back to 2010. Instead, the company wants to use the more general safety measures used in the ice cream industry. But Blue Bell was finding Listeria Monocytogenes in its plants a year after the outbreak. And according to FDA records, the company knew about potential Listeria contamination in one of its plants a year before the outbreak. The Justice Department started an investigation into the company's practices and is trying to determine when company officials knew about the contamination. FDA officials found Listeria … [Read more...]
