California Cheese Maker Recalls Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

This winter, a California cheese producer expanded its voluntary recall to include a number of cheeses made between February and September of last year.  The recall resulted after sampling by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) found the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. The cheese products that are part of the recall were reportedly sold to distributors who service California and Pennsylvania. 
 
Listeria is the name of a bacteria found in soil, water and some animals, including poultry and cattle. It can be present in raw milk and foods made from raw milk. It can also live in food processing plants and contaminate a variety of processed meats. Unlike many other pathogens, Listeria can grow even in the cold temperatures found in refrigerators.
 
Listeriosis is the name of an infection people can develop by eating foods contaminated with this type of bacteria.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that approximately 1,600 people in the U.S. get sick from Listeria each year and that it is the third leading cause of death from food poisoning.  The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services stated, “Pregnant women are approximately 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get listeriosis. In pregnant women, it is typically a mild, flu-like illness. In the child, listeriosis can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or life-long health problems.” 
 
LA Testing and its network of laboratories provide analytical services to identify Listeria and other foodborne pathogens.  “Fortunately, there have not yet been any reported cases of illnesses due to the cheese products in question,” said Joy Dell’Aringa, M.S., RM (NRM), CFSP, National Food Director at LA Testing and EMSL Analytical, Inc.  “Our laboratories can help identify microbial contaminants from raw ingredients and surfaces in food processing plants with proactive testing to help prevent tainted products from ever reaching the consumer.”
 
LA Testing has sponsored a video about Listeria that can be seen at: http://youtu.be/iXQOwCfZQek.
 
To learn more about testing for food pathogens or other food testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. 
 
About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for food testing and indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals.  In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states.  LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Garden Grove, San Leandro and San Diego.
 
 

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