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...]
Listeria Lawsuit: Outbreak Linked to Forever Cheese Frescolina Ricotta Salata Grows
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have updated their investigation into the outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes linked to imported Frescolina Marte brand ricotta salata cheese. Now 20 people in 13 states have been sickened in this outbreak. Nineteen people have been hospitalized, and four have died. One fetal loss was also reported. The case count is distributed in these states: 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). Clinical specimens were collected from March 28, 2012 to September 19, 2012. Nine of the illnesses were related to a pregnancy; three of the illnesses were diagnosed in newborns. the other 11 … [Read more...]
Whole Foods Listeriosis Lawsuit: Outbreak Linked to Frescolina Ricotta Salata Grows
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have just updated the multistate outbreak of listeriosis linked to imported Marte brand Frescolina Ricotta Salata cheese. The cheese was imported by Forever Cheese and sold at Whole Foods stores and other stores around the country. Now, 18 people in 12 states and the District of Columbia have been sickened with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes. Three people have died, and all 18 ill persons have been hospitalized. Pritzker Olsen has filed the first lawsuit in response to this outbreak, on behalf of a person in Pennsylvania who became sick after eating several soft cheeses purchased at a Whole Foods market in Pittsburgh. Fred Pritzker, national food safety attorney, said, "there may be more contaminated cheeses on the market, … [Read more...]
Forever Cheese Expands Recall of Frescolina Ricotta Salata for Listeria
Forever Cheese Inc. is expanding their recall of Marte brand Ricotta Salata Frescolina cheese for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recall now includes all of the Ricotta Salata which was imported from Italy. All lots and all production codes are recalled. The cheese was sold to distributors for retailers, supermarkets, wholesale distributors, and restaurants in AL, CA, CO, CT, D.C., FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MN, MT, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, TX, UT, VA, WA between September 1, 2011 and August 31, 2012. The following lot/production codes can be found on the original wheel of cheese: T5086/440220, T5520/440315, T6048/440417, T6528/440519, T7012/440703, T7452/440601, T7939/440822, T8419/441003, T8899/441020, T9425/441202, T9962/441227, … [Read more...]
Listeria Outbreak Linked to Frescolina Ricotta Salata Grows to Include Washington
The Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to imported Marte brand Frescolina ricotta salata cheese has grown. Now 15 people have been sickened with the outbreak strain of the bacteria in 12 states and the District of Columbia. The case numbers by state are as follows: California (1), Colorado (1), District of Columbia (1), Maryland (3), Minnesota (1), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (1), New Mexico (1), New York (1), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (1), Virginia (1), and Washington (1). The one new case is from Washington state. All 15 people have been hospitalized. Three deaths have been reported. Illness onset dates range from March 28, 2012 to August 30, 2012. Four of the ilnesses were related to a pregnancy. Listeriosis contributed to at least one of the deaths in Nebraska and New York, but … [Read more...]
