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...]
Multistate Listeria Outbreak of Frescolina Ricotta Salata Updated by CDC
The CDC has updated their investigation into the outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes linked to Frescolina Marte brand ricotta salata cheese imported by Forever Cheese and processed by Whole Foods. Now 22 people are sick in 14 states. Four people have died, and 20 people have been or are hospitalized in the outbreak. One fetal loss was reported. The two new cases are from Virginia and Massachusetts. Attorney Fred Pritzker, who is representing victims of this outbreak, said, "cross-contamination of other cheeses was very likely caused by cutting and repackaging the adulterated cheese. This outbreak has been widespread and the recalled cheese has contaminated an unknown number of other cheeses since they were cut with the same equipment." The case count by state is: California (3), … [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...]
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 Market Recalls Forever Cheese Ricotta Salata For Possible Listeria
Whole Foods Market is recalling ricotta salata sold in 21 states and Washington D.C. because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. This is an update of a previous recall. There is a nationwide outbreak caused by that bacteria that has sickened at least 18 people in 12 states and D.C. The recalled cheese was cut into wedges, packaged in clear plastic wrap, and sold with a Whole Foods Market scale label with the PLU 293427. In the four stores in California and Arizona that sold the cheese, it was marked with a Whole Foods scale label that read "Mitica Ricotta Salada" and with Whole Foods Market scale labels with PLU 294413. All "sell by" dates through October 2, 2012 are affected by this recall. The symptoms of Listeria food poisoning include fever, headache, stiffness, … [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...]
Attorney Calls for More Cheese Testing After Expanded Ricotta Salata Listeria Recall
Attorney Fred Pritzker, who has filed suit on behalf of a client injured by Listeria monocytogenes in soft cheese, has called for more testing of cheeses for Listeria contamination. "The lawsuit pointed to the need for the expanded recall of Frescolina Ricotta Salata cheese," he said. "The hope is that it will be a catalyst for additional testing of cheeses for Listeria contamination and that any other cheeses potentially contaminated with the dangerous pathogen will be recalled." The lawsuit was filed one week ago against Whole Foods Market and Forever Cheese, the importer. His client is the one CDC-confirmed Listeria case from Pennsylvania. The case count in the nationwide outbreak is as follows: California (1), Colorado (1), District of Columbia (1), Maryland (3), Minnesota (1), … [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...]
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...]
