NY Creamery Expands Recall, Product Linked to Illnesses. 2 Deaths

A NY creamery expanded its recall, posted on 3/7/16, as the CDC has linked the product to 6 cases of listeriosis.  There have been 2 deaths.

The product had national distribution, and with the window of time until the product was recalled, there may be additional cases that may be reported.

Listeria can be problematic in soft cheeses in that the product will support the growth of Listeria  We have seen a number of cases of listeria related to soft cheeses, so it is incumbent on those packing soft cheeses to have an aggressive Listeria control program. 

Harder cheese have a lower water activity and will not support the growth of Listeria.  While the risk is lower, the food plant-environmental pathogen still needs to be controlled.

FDA Recall Notice
https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm546133.htm
Vulto Creamery Voluntarily Expands Their Recall of All Raw Milk Cheeses Because of Possible Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination
For Immediate Release
March 11, 2017
Contact
Consumers vultocreamery@gmail.com 607-222-3995

Announcement
View Product Photos

Vulto Creamery, Walton, New York, is out of an abundance of caution expanded the recall to include all lots for four additional cheeses which include, by name the following: Andes, Blue Blais, Hamden & Walton Umber. In summary, Vulto Creamery has recalled the following eight cheese items: Heinennellie, Miranda,, Willowemoc, Ouleout , Andes, Blue Blais, Hamden & Walton Umber due to potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, pregnant women and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths and fetal infection among pregnant women.

The raw milk cheeses were distributed nationwide, with most being sold at retail locations in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic States, California, Chicago Illinois, Portland Oregon and Washington, D.C. Distribution. Product photos of all Vulto Cheese products being recalled along with a brief description are attached.

Testing results from the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets identified Ouleout product contamination. The particular strain of Listeria monocytogenes found in the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets was found to be similar to the strain isolated from a cluster outbreak of Listeriosis responsible for 6 illnesses and 2 confirmed deaths.

Consumers that have any of these cheeses from Vulto Creamery should return the cheese to the purchase location for a refund. Food and cheese wholesalers and retailers with any Vulto Creamery cheeses on hand should immediately remove these products from common storage coolers and quarantine these cheeses in a secured area of a cooler. Any wholesaler or distributor that has any of the eight Vulto Creamery cheeses should contact Vulto Creamery to receive instructions on what to do with the cheese. No recalled cheese should be destroyed until Vulto Creamery has been notified and agrees.

The production and distribution of all cheese products have been suspended while FDA and the company continue to investigate the source of the problem.

Consumers with any questions or seeking additional information can call 607-222-3995 normal hours of operations (Monday-Friday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm ET) or send an email to vultocreamery@gmail.com.

Link to Original Recall.

CDC Outbreak
https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/soft-cheese-03-17/index.html
Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Soft Raw Milk Cheese Made by Vulto Creamery
Posted March 9, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Highlights

• Read the Recall & Advice to Consumers and Retailers>>(https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/soft-cheese-03-17/advice-consumers.html)
• CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections (listeriosis). 
• Listeria can cause a serious, life-threatening illness.
• Six people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria have been reported from four states since September 1, 2016. 
• All six people were hospitalized, and two people from Connecticut and Vermont died. One illness was reported in a newborn.
• Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence indicate that soft raw milk cheese made by Vulto Creamery of Walton, New York, is the likely source of this outbreak. 
• Six of six people interviewed reported eating various types of soft cheeses in the month before their illness started.
• The outbreak strain of Listeria was identified in samples taken from three intact wheels of Ouleout cheese collected from Vulto Creamery.
• On March 7, 2017, Vulto Creamery recalled all lots of Ouleout, Miranda, Heinennellie, and Willowemoc soft wash-rind raw milk cheeses. 
• The soft raw milk cheeses were distributed nationwide, with most being sold at retail locations in the northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states, California, Chicago, Portland, Oregon, and Washington, D.C.
• CDC recommends that consumers do not eat, restaurants do not serve, and retailers do not sell recalled soft raw milk cheeses made by Vulto Creamery.
• This investigation is ongoing. Updates will be provided when more information is available.