Listeria Cheese Recall From Washington Firm
A Red Darla cheese recall issued by Washington-based Estrella Family Creamery involves a possible Listeria monocytogenes health risk, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The harmful bacteria was discovered in one unit of the finished product during a routine sampling by the Washington State Department of Agriculture.
The soft cheese, made of cow milk and washed and aged in red wine was packaged in 3/4-pound wheels and sold at the following locations:
- Ballard and Seattle’s U-District farmers’ markets
- Two Seattle restaurants
- Retail stores in the Seattle-Tacoma area
- The Estrella Family Creamery retail store in Montesano, Washington
- A retail market in San Francisco
- A Springfield, New Jersey cheese shop
Consumers who have Red Darla cheese should return it to the place of purchase for a refund.
Listeria monocytogenes and listeriosis dangers
Consuming food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can lead to an illness called listeriosis, which can be especially harmful to children, the elderly, people with weak immune systems and can, in some cases, cause a miscarriage in pregnant women. Initial listeriosis symptoms are flu-like and may include:
- fever
- headache
- nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea
The National Institutes of Health recommends taking the following precautions to avoid a Listeria infection:
- Use precooked and ready-to-eat foods as soon as you can
- Avoid raw milk and raw milk products
- Heat ready-to-eat foods and leftovers until they are steaming hot
- Wash fresh fruits and vegetables
- Avoid rare meat and seafood
Tags: cheese recall, Listeria Lawyer
