New York Dairy Recalls Artisan Cheese Due to Listeria Contamination Concerns

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recently posted a recall announcement from a dairy and artisan cheese producer in New York. The decision to recall the Tomme style cheese and to suspend production occurred when the potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by New York State Agriculture and Markets Division of Milk Control revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of cheese.

The recalled product was sold in a limited number of retail outlets and distributed to several restaurants in New York and Illinois. Fortunately, at the time of the recall notice, there had been no reports of illness and the product had been removed from stores and food establishments.

Listeria contaminated foods may cause listeriosis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that an estimated 1,600 people get listeriosis each year and approximately 260 die. The infection is most likely to sicken pregnant women and their newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems. The agency also states that soft cheeses made with unpasteurized milk (raw milk) are estimated to be 50 to 160 times more likely to cause Listeria infection than when they are made with pasteurized milk. Although pasteurization of milk kills Listeria, products made from pasteurized milk can still become contaminated if they are produced in facilities with unsanitary conditions.

The scientists at MPL Laboratories work diligently to help food producers and manufacturers identify microbial pathogens before they reach consumers. Their testing facility offers advanced microbial testing for Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli and a wide range of other pathogens and contaminants. Testing of raw ingredients, finished products, production surfaces and equipment, and evaluating cleaning and disinfection procedures can help prevent recalls and the costs associated with these types of events. If contaminated products have already reached consumers causing an outbreak, testing can facilitate the process of quickly pinpointing its source to prevent additional illnesses.

To learn more about this or other food, beverage, supplement, pharmaceutical, cosmetic or consumer product testing services provided by MPL Laboratories, please visit www.MPLLaboratories.com, call (800) 548-1874 or email  info@MPLLaboratories.com .


About MPL Laboratories
MPL Laboratories (formerly Marypaul Laboratories) was founded in 1985 as a full service microbiology laboratory. It is ISO/IEC 17025 accredited by PJLA, FDA and DEA registered, and NJDEP certified. MPL’s staff includes a PhD Diplomat of the American Board of Toxicology, M.S. and B.S. degreed microbiologists, and other dedicated scientists. The microbiology testing laboratory serves the pharmaceutical, medical device, cosmetic, personal care and food industries. MPL aims to provide its clients with high quality, reliable test data in a timely manner. The laboratory is part of the EMSL Analytical network of over 40 laboratories across the United States and Canada.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

MPL Laboratories

(1) 856-303-2503

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