The USDA is giving advice on keeping your family healthy as you grill food on Memorial Day and throughout the summer. Follow the four basic rules of food safety: clean, separate, cook, and chill. We've already covered most of this advice, including grilling safety and picnic safety. More about that in the next few days! But the Listeria warning is something most people don't know. Some ready to eat foods may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can cause serious infections in at-risk groups. Deli foods such as cold cuts, smoked seafood, soft cheeses, and chicken or egg salad can contain this bacteria, which unfortunately grows and reproduces at refrigerator temperatures. If any of your guests include pregnant women, infants, the elderly, and those with … [Read more...]
Keep Your Kitchen Free from Listeria
There have been several recalls for products for Listeria monocytogenes contamination in the past several weeks, including several derivative recalls for smoked salmon. Products were recalled from Sam's Club, Giant's, Martin's, Whole Foods, King Sooper's, City Market, and Ralph's. Smoked salmon is often contaminated with Listeria bacteria because the bacteria is present in many water bodies. Then, improper brining, draining, smoking temperatures, cooling, packaging, and handling of the product can contaminate the salmon. In addition, last year there was a multi state Listeria outbreak that caused illness and death that was linked to soft cheeses. Protecting your family from listeriosis can be difficult. The scientists at Michigan State University Extension have prepared a guide for … [Read more...]
Largest Multi-State Food Poisoning Outbreaks Of 2012: #9
A Listeria outbreak linked to imported, ricotta salata cheese was the ninth largest multi-state food poisoning outbreak of 2012, based on the total number of people sickened. Announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in September, the outbreak sickened 22 people in 13 states and the District of Columbia and killed four people making it one of the deadliest outbreaks of the year. Listeria monocytogenes has and 80 percent hospital rate and 20 percent fatality rate. In this outbreak, 20 of the 22 people sickened were hospitalized, the highest hospitalization rate among the 10 largest multi-state food poisoning outbreaks of 2012. Listeria symptoms, which include headache, fever and muscle stiffness sometimes accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms, can take as long … [Read more...]
Listeria Outbreak Ends After Striking 22, Killing 4
A food poisoning outbreak linked to cheese tainted with the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes has ended after sickening a total 22 people in 13 states and the District of Columbia and killing four, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The cheese, Frescolina Marte brand ricotta salata, was imported from Italy and distributed by Forever Cheese, Inc. Listeria monocytogenes is a rare and dangerous bacteria, especially to pregnant women. It has and 80 percent hospital rate and 20 percent fatality rate. Symptoms include headache, fever and muscle stiffness which are sometimes accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms. Although pregnant women may only experience mild, flu-like symptoms, it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth and birth defects. In this … [Read more...]
Forever Cheese Listeria Outbreak Grows to 20, Lawsuit Filed against Whole Foods Market
The Listeria outbreak linked to Forever Cheese, Inc. Frescolina ricotta salata has grown to 20 CDC-confirmed illnesses. 4 adults and an unborn baby died. The number of confirmed cases in each state is as follows: California (3), Colorado (1), District of Columbia (1), Maryland (3), Minnesota (1), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (3), New Mexico (1), New York (1), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (2), Virginia (1), and Washington (1). The contaminated ricotta salata was distributed to retailers and restaurants. One of the retailers was Whole Foods Market, which cut and repackaged the cheese with a Whole Foods label. A lawsuit filed against Whole Foods Market and Forever Cheese on behalf of a listeriosis victim claims this repackaging by Whole Foods caused other cheeses to become contaminated with the … [Read more...]
Forever Cheese Stops Importing and Selling all Fattorie Chiarappa Products
Forever Cheese, the facility that imported and sold Frescolina ricotta salata that has been linked to a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has decided to stop importing and selling all cheese from that manufacturer in Italy. The cheeses include Ricotta Salata Frescolina, Marte brand Roasted Ricotta and Hard Ricotta Salata. The company is asking all customers to destroy whatever they have in house and to notify them for credit. This recall and ban includes all lots and all production codes of Marte brand Frescolina Ricotta Salata cheese. Fourteen people have been sickened in this outbreak, and three people have died. Pritzker Olsen is representing one of the victims in a lawsuit. Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious illness. And this outbreak is complicated, since there was likely … [Read more...]
Peterson Company Recalls Frescolina Ricotta Salata for Listeria
Peterson Company is recalling Frescolina brand ricotta salata imported by Forever Cheese of Long Island City, New York for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The cheese was sold to distributors, retailers, and restaurants in Washington and Oregon between July 17 and September 10, 2012. The recalled product is Ricotta Salata Frescolina brand, cut into 7 ounce pieces, with manufacturer codes 7022, 7212, 7272, and 7432. There is a total of 390 pounds of the cheese in distribution. The potential for contamination was discovered after an illness was reported in connection with eating the cheese. The CDC recommends that consumers not eat imported Marte brand Frescolina ricotta salata cheese. The Frescolina brand of ricotta salata is subject to a nationwide recall and is linked … [Read more...]
Questions About Whole Foods Market Cheese Recalls
On September 12, 2012, Whole Foods Market recalled Frescolina brand ricotta salata cheese imported by Forever Cheese, Inc. for Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The product was sold in 21 states and Washington, D.C. The cheese was "cut into wedges, packaged in clear plastic wrap, and sold with a Whole Foods Market scale label using PLU 293427," according to the recall notice. The cheese is linked to a nationwide outbreak that has sickened at least 14 people in 11 states. The FDA issued a nationwide recall for the cheese on September 10, 2012. However, Whole Foods has not identified the store or distribution center that cut, repackaged, labeled, and distributed the cheese. The public does not know if, in the process of cutting and repackaging the contaminated cheese, other cheeses or … [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...]
