FDA Issues Warning for Cheese Sold at Farmers' Market Due to Listeria Potential

NY Ag issued a warning about raw goat milk cheese for potential Listeria contamination.  "A routine sample of the cheese, taken by an inspector from the Division of Milk Control and Dairy Services on February 20, 2018, was subsequently tested by the New York State Food Laboratory and discovered to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. On February 23, 2018, the manufacturer was notified of a preliminary positive test result and voluntarily recalled the product from all their customers. Test results were confirmed on March 2, 2018. The cheese will be destroyed by the manufacturer."  To date, there have been no reported illnesses.

This is not the first case of Listeria-in-cheese issue we have seen involving a small processor.  NY has had several recalls and an associated outbreak over the past year or so.  These cases should not incriminate all small cheese makers, however a trend of issues can be a drag on the entire industry sector.  Therefore it behooves the industry to rise above the regulations rather then bemoan them.  We need to do more than applaud small business, but recognize that there is risk and with that, the need for mitigation strategies, independent of the size of company.  This includes strict sanitation practices and verification including monitoring.  The excuse for inaction that these are 'just a small local producers' does no good when we find a owner with the best of intentions suddenly out of business, in court, with product responsible for someone's illness.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm600681.htm
Consumer Alert:  Listeria  Contamination In Maiden’s Creamery Wild Meadow Raw Goat Milk Cheese
For Immediate Release
March 12, 2018


Contact
Consumers  Mark Harvey  (607) 859-2227

Announcement

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball today warned consumers not to consume The Maiden’s Creamery “Wild Meadow” Raw Goat Milk Cheese made by Mark Harvey, 1277 Copes Corner Road, South New Berlin, NY 13843 due to possible Listeria contamination. To date, no illnesses have been reported to the Department in connection with this product.

The product is packaged in various sizes of sealed flexible plastic packaging, displaying the plant number 36-1315, with a code of 101. The consumer alert affects all packages with this code. This product was sold at the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market - 101 Main St. Cooperstown, NY - during late December 2017 and early January 2018 and at the Sunflower Natural Foods Market – 75 Mill Hill Rd. Woodstock, NY 12498 – starting on January 10, 2018.

A routine sample of the cheese, taken by an inspector from the Division of Milk Control and Dairy Services on February 20, 2018, was subsequently tested by the New York State Food Laboratory and discovered to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. On February 23, 2018, the manufacturer was notified of a preliminary positive test result and voluntarily recalled the product from all their customers. Test results were confirmed on March 2, 2018. The cheese will be destroyed by the manufacturer.

Listeria contaminated product may cause Listeriosis, a disease that usually causes mild flu-like symptoms in healthy individuals; however, in immune-compromised individuals, meningitis and blood poisoning can occur. Pregnant women are also considered a high-risk group, as Listeriosis can also result in stillbirths.

Consumers with questions about the recalled product may contact Mark Harvey at (607) 859-2227.