Listeriosis infection results to 6 cases of hospitalizations, with 2 confirmed fatalities, prompts the Food and Drug Administration to investigate its connection with soft raw milk cheese manufactured by Vulto Creamery. The multistate listeria outbreak covers Connecticut, Florida, New York and Vermont. Subsequently, there is an ongoing recall of Heinennellie, Miranda, Ouleout, and Willowemoc products of Vulto Creamery.
According to Foodsafety.Gov, listeriosis is caused by soil bacteria present in some animals and cattle. It lists raw soft cheese and dairy products as prone to listeria contamination. Listeriosis is particularly dangerous to those with weak immune system, elderly and pregnant women who are 20 times more likely to get infected.
Vulto Creamery is distributing soft raw cheese products and has a particular market in California, Chicago, Oregon, and Portland. Apart from earlier brands mentioned, Vulto also recalled Andes, Hamden, and Blue Blais cheeses since Saturday. There were no reported cases of affected consumer nor hospitalization thereafter.
Meanwhile, the FDA warned that restaurants should take measure and avoid serving cheese contaminated with listeria. The FDA also tapped into several health officials from affected states and found shreds of evidence that traced back to Vulto Creamery. Further, listeriosis victims cover a wide age range from 1-year old to 89, according to Pix11 report.
Those who suffered fatalities from listeria came from Connecticut and Vermont. There is an ongoing independent investigation being conducted by Connecticut Department of Public Health. In Vermont, the widow of the man who died has filed a lawsuit against Vulto Creamery.
To recall, a precedent happened just last month when Sargento Foods Inc. recalled its cheese products although there was no listeria infection reported. The company stressed that they are taking precautions over fears of contamination. Sargento's recall was over suspicions that cheese packets from their supplier Deutsch Kase Haus LLC were potentially contaminated. Ironically, 9 other cheese companies followed suit because they are sourcing their products from Deutsch Kase as well.
