The Estrella Family Creamery of Montesano, Washington, is recalling a production of Old Apple Tree Tomme cheese because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, 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 infections can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
The Old Apple Tree Tomme cheese was sold at the Ballard and Seattle’s U-District farmer’s markets in Seattle, Washington, and the firm’s farm store in Montesano, Washington the weekend of Feb. 27 and 28, 2010.
The recalled cheese was sold by custom order at the markets and the firm’s farm store, with a label bearing it’s name. The product does not contain a lot code.
No illnesses in connection with this product or any other Estrella cheeses have been reported to date.
The recall is the result of continued sampling by the state of Washington Department of Agriculture, which revealed that one wheel of the finished product contained the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.
Consumers who have any should return the cheese to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 360.249.6541 between 6:00am – 8:00pm PST.
E. Sizemore says
Note: I have emailed Estrella Family Creamery with the following message. Let’s see a “news” website or cable TV network do something like this:
Hello,
I operate a recall news website and just learned of your recall. Being a raw milk drinking, whole food advocate – I wanted to give you a chance to respond. Feel free to comment if you feel the “authorities” have treated you unfairly. After reading “Raw Milk Revolution” I look at these salmonella risks a whole different way and want to make sure the producers get a place to voice their side of the story just as the USDA and FDA do. I find it sort of interesting that no matter how many of these small dairy and creamery salmonella recalls I publish, they ALL say that no injuries have been reported. In fact, I feel so strongly about it that I’d be willing to give you a front-page (on the website) feature guest-editorial if you want.
Kind regards,
Everett Sizemore
Editor, US Recall News
http://www.usrecallnews.com