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...]
Nine Whole Foods Stores Recall Cheeses for Listeria
Nine Whole Foods markets in four states are recalling Vulto Creamery's soft wash-rind raw milk cheeses from their stores after FDA testing found Listeria monocytogenes in one of the cheeses. The stores are located in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, and New York. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the consumption of these products. Vulto Creamery recalled their raw milk cheeses when the FDA found Ouleout lot #617 positive for Listeria, and the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets found the possible contamination of Ouleout lot #623. The Whole Foods recall includes Vulto Creamery Ouleout and Miranda soft wash-rind raw milk cheeses which were cut and packaged in clear plastic wrap. The scale labels begin with PLU codes 0200305 and 0200306. The sell … [Read more...]
Vulto Creamery Recalls Raw Milk Cheeses for Listeria
Vulto Creamery of Walton, New York is recalling all lots of Ouleout, Miranda, Heinennellie, and Willowemoc soft wash-rind raw milk cheeses because testing from the FDA found Ouleout lot #617 positive for Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets found possible contamination in Ouleout lot #623. Production has been suspended while the FDA and the company investigate the problem. If you purchased any of these soft, wash-rind raw milk cheeses, do not eat it. The cheeses were distributed nationwide. Most were sold at retail locations in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic States, California, Chicago, Portland and Washington, DC. Throw the cheese away in a sealed or double bagged package or take it back to the place of purchase for a refund. Then … [Read more...]
Texas Brucellosis Outbreak Linked to Raw Cheese from Mexico
A brucellosis outbreak in Texas has been linked to unpasteurized cheese from Mexico, according to a health advisory issued by the Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services. A record number of 13 people have been diagnosed in 2016 so far. Dallas usually has only 2 to 6 cases of brucellosis every year. There were 11 Brucella infections total in 2014. The cheeses were brought into the U.S. from Mexico by friends or relatives, consumed while traveling in Mexico, or bought from local street vendors. The patient age range is from 6 to 80 years. Most required hospitalization to start treatment. And two incidents of "high-risk occupational exposures of hospital laboratory personnel have occurred during handling of these clinical Brucella isolates." Brucella bacteria typically … [Read more...]
FDA Releases Commodity Sampling Test Results on Raw Milk Cheese
The FDA released test results of commodity sampling last week. The products sampled were raw milk cheese aged 60 days, cucumbers, and hot peppers. This sampling program is part of an effort to help ensure food safety. This program was adopted in 2014 to learn more about the prevalence of disease-causing bacteria in foods and to help the agency identify patterns to help prevent future contamination. Raw milk cheese aged 60 days was one of the commodities selected for the first year of testing. Evidence indicates that aging this product for 60 days may not eliminate or adequately reduce disease causing bacteria, posing a hazard. People may still get sick with E. coli, Salmonella, or Listeria monocytogenes infections if they eat these cheeses. And they can suffer serious complications, … [Read more...]
Burton Hill Farm Raw Goat Milk Recalled for E. coli
Burton Hill Farm & Dairy has issued a recall for raw goat milk because it may be contaminated with E. coli a bacteria that can cause serious illness and death. Consumers who have purchased this product should not consume it. The recalled product, labelled "Grade A Raw Goat Milk" has sell by dates of 6/29/2016 and 7/1/2016. It was sold at the Vashon Farmers Market, Phinney Farmers Market, Vashon Island Coffee Roastery, and the Burton Hill Farm in Vashon. Consumers who have purchased the recalled milk can return it to the place of purchase for a refund. … [Read more...]
Cheese Seized from CA Home in Salmonella Outbreak Investigation
Bakersfield Now is reporting that more than 30 packages of Mexican cheese were seized from a woman's home this week, as part of the ongoing investigation into the Salmonella outbreak. Family members of the woman bring cheese from Sinaloa, Mexico. The cheese is being tested for pathogens, according to the report. Seven people in Kern County, which includes Bakersfield, have been sickened with Salmonella infections from eating illegal Mexican cheese. The Salmonella outbreak, which was last mentioned by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) in March 2016, has sickened at least fifty people across the state with three different strains of the pathogenic bacteria. Officials believe that the common food is home made, soft cheese products. The Director of CDPH and State Public … [Read more...]
Whole Foods Recalls Maytag Blue Cheese for Possible Listeria
Whole Foods Market in Texas is voluntarily recalling Maytag Raw Milk Blue Cheese because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the consumption of this product, but the illness caused by this bacteria can take up to 70 days to appear. The recalled cheese was sold cut and packaged in clear plastic wrap with scale labels in different weights reading "Maytag Blue Raw Milk," "Maytag Blue," or "Maytag Iowa Blue Cheese." The PLU numbers on the labels begin with 293308 and "sell by" dates are 1/20/2016 and 3/21/16. The product was sold from cheese cases in various Whole Foods Market stores nationwide. The potential for contamination was discovered after testing by the State of Iowa found the pathogenic bacteria in two lots of … [Read more...]
Maytag Dairy Farms Expands Raw Milk Blue Cheese Recall for Listeria
Maytag Dairy Farms in Newton, Iowa is expanding their recall of Maytag Raw Milk Blue Cheese for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. They recalled one lot number this past weekend. To date no illnesses have been reported in connection with the consumption of these products, but listeriosis, the illness caused by this bacteria, can take up to 70 days to appear. The recalled cheeses are from Lot 150482. The cheeses recalled on February 14, 2016 are from Lot 150481. This new lot includes about 1,100 pounds of cheese. Some was distributed to retail locations before the initial recall. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's Dairy Products Control Bureau discovered the possible contamination as part of the follow up testing of cheese products from that … [Read more...]
FDA Examining Raw Milk Cheese Criteria
Cheesemakers, especially artisan producers, have suggested that the FDA is applying safety criteria to raw milk cheese production that limits producers without benefitting public health. Raw milk cheeses have been linked to recalls and food poisoning outbreaks in the past several years. Raw milk cheese produced by Family Cow in Pennsylvania caused Campylobacter illnesses in 2013, and there have been dozens of recalls of raw milk cheeses over the years. Raw milk cheese has been recalled for Campylobacter, Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria monocytogenes contamination in all of the four years Food Poisoning Bulletin has been published. Some studies have concluded that aged raw milk cheeses are safe to eat, since the aging process changes the composition of the cheese. Aging reduces the … [Read more...]
