According to press reports, award-winning Loch Arthur Creamery Criffel cheese have been deemed risky for certain people, including pregnant women, young children and anyone with an illness leading to reduced immunity.  The recall is the second time in less than a year that the same cheese has had to be removed from sale because of the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

“Loch Arthur Creamery has recalled batches of its Criffel unpasteurised cheese, because Listeria monocytogenes has been detected in the product,” said a statement from the Food Standards Agency yesterday. “Listeria monocytogenes can cause illness in certain groups such as pregnant women, unborn and newborn babies, and anyone with reduced immunity, particularly the over-60s.”

The batches affected were produced on 11 and 15 November. Consumers who have purchased the product have been advised not to eat it and to return it to the shop where it was purchased. It is not thought that anyone has fallen ill as a result of eating the cheese.

Pregnant women and the in-firm are often advised to avoid food products which could be a high risk for listeria, including unpasteurized cheeses, smoked salmon, deli meats and pate. It can also be found on fruit and vegetables grown in soil.

Although it is fairly rare, listeria causes more deaths from food poisoning in the UK than other food-borne bugs. Most people infected with listeria are hospitalized and approximately a third die.

AP’s Dan Elliott reported from Denver that two Colorado cantaloupe farmers linked to the nation’s deadliest outbreak of foodborne illness in a quarter-century were sentenced Tuesday to probation and home detention, but the judge said he wasn’t sending them to prison so they could work to pay off $150,000 each in restitution.  Each will serve five years of probation and six months of home detention and perform 100 hours of community service.

Before they were sentenced, Eric and Ryan Jensen read statements apologizing to the victims of the 2011 listeria outbreak, which killed 33 people and sickened 147 in 28 states, according to federal health authorities.

  • “I can’t begin to describe how ghastly it is to watch someone die,” said Patricia Hauser. She said her husband, Michael, suffered a slow and agonizing death.  Occasionally looking toward the Jensen brothers as she spoke, Hauser said they should be sentenced to prison and fined. She told the judge she was “very bitter.”  “Someone took my Michael from me, and it just isn’t fair,” she said.
  • Jim Weathered said his father, also named Jim, died of listeria but would have wanted probation for the Jensens.  “Sending those boys to jail isn’t going to help anybody in this situation,” said Weathered, who often struggled to control his emotions during his brief statement.
  • Paul F. Schwarz said he would accept whatever sentence Hegarty handed down after the death of his father, Paul A. Schwarz. But at one point he looked toward the Jensens and asked, “What were you thinking?”

Lochiel Enterprises Limited of Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia, is recalling 56 lbs. of smoked salmon products because of potential Listeria contamination.

The recalled products are St. Mary’s River Smokehouses Oven Smoked Salmon Stix, Chili Mango Flavor, in a 4 oz. black Styrofoam tray with an outer sleeve bearing the UPC Code 6 2642510092 9. The recall is specific to products marked with the production code 347 31## on a sticker on the end of the styrofoam tray.

The salmon was distributed in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont and New York through retail stores.

The recall was the result of a routine sampling program by FDA which revealed that samples of the finished products contained the Listeria. Lochiel Enterprises Limited has voluntarily initiated the recall and is continuing its investigation.

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) is reporting listeria in a sampling of bottled raw (unpasteurized) milk from Jerseydale Farms near Brookings, S.D.

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture advises consumers that bottled raw milk recently purchased from this business may contain harmful bacteria that can lead to listeria infection.

The contaminated bottled raw milk was sold in the Brookings County area. If you have purchased this bottled raw milk, SDDA advises the product be discarded or returned.

State bottled raw milk rules require permits for dairies selling raw milk directly to consumers. Inspections are required at least annually depending on grade of milk; dairies must also submit samples monthly for bacteria and residue testing.

According to the South Dakota Department of Health, listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and individuals with weakened immune systems. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. A person with listeriosis may have fever, muscle aches and sometimes nausea or diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions can occur.

Queso Fresco cheese imported illegally from Mexico and sold in a Latino grocery store in Woodburn, Oregon may be tainted with Listeria, Oregon state officials warned Friday.

Oregon’s Health Authority and Department of Agriculture launched an investigation into the dairy product after an infant in Clackamas County fell ill from the bacteria.  Officials traced the infection to batch of queso fresco, a soft white cheese manufactured in Mexico.

Officials believe the cheese was brought into the country illegally because it was found unlabeled and sold in plastic bags, the spokesman said.

Gusto Packing, a Montgomery, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 67,113 pounds of sliced, spiral ham products due to concerns about possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The hams were shipped to wholesalers for further distribution in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio, while some were exported to Canada. The following products are subject to recall:

45.5-lb. cases, with six individual sized hams each labeled “Centrella Signature, Hardwood Hickory Smoked, Spiral Sliced Ham with Natural Juices” with the case code “71292603304,” packaged on Nov. 29, 2013, having a Use or Freeze by date of “02/06/14.”

45.8-lb. cases, with six individual sized hams each labeled “AMISH VALLEY, Fully Cooked, Hickory Smoked Spiral Sliced Ham” with the case code “71292645104,” packaged on Nov. 29, 2013, having a Use or Freeze by date of “02/06/14.”

45.8-lb. cases, with six individual sized hams each labeled “AMISH VALLEY, Fully Cooked, Hickory Smoked Spiral Sliced Ham” with the case code “71292645104,” packaged on Nov. 30, 2013, having a Use or Freeze by date of “02/06/14.”

31.6-lb. cases, with four individual sized hams each labeled “Ripple Creek Farms, Fully Cooked, Ready To Eat, Hickory Smoked, Spiral Sliced Ham” with the case code “71292603312,” packaged on Nov. 30, 2013, having a Best Before date of “2014 FE 13.”

ZIP INTERNATIONAL GROUP LLC, 160 Raritan Center Parkway #6, Edison, NJ 08837, is recalling herring fillet in oil (FOSFOREL, ATLANTIKA) 200 grams in plastic packaging due to Listeria contamination.

Listeria monocytogenes is 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 infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The recalled herring fillet in oil (FOSFOREL, ATLANTIKA) 200 grams in plastic packaging includes best by dates 18/01/2014 (UPC: 4607106577526). The best by date is located on the round side of the packaging and was sold to retail grocery stores in New York State beginning on 11/07/2013 and ending on 12/12/2013. It is a product of Russia.

The recall was initiated after routine sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets Food Inspectors and subsequent analysis of the product by Food Laboratory personnel found the product to be positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

Spokane Produce, Inc., of Spokane Washington is recalling approximately 59 lbs of Victor’s Sesame Hummus due to concerns about possible 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 infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The following product is subject to the voluntary recall:

  • 11oz labeled “Victor™ – Toasted Sesame Hummus” with UPC 6 09722 76501 5, best by 12/29/13.

The hummus was distributed to retail locations (Rosauers, Brewster Market, SuperOne) in Washington and Montana.

No illnesses have been reported in association with this recall.

Listeria Species were discovered during routine testing of the newly released product. The listeria test utilized is an indicator of several species of listeria and does not specifically indicate listeria monocytogenes.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) issued the recall notice on batches of farmed oak smoked salmon with Clarke’s Fish Exports label as “a precautionary measure”.

Affected batches have use-by dates ranging from December 19th to January 8th next year.

Clarke’s Organic Farmed Smoked Salmon is not affected by this recall while the farmed salmon with a use by date of 11/01/14 has also been given the all clear.

The affected smoked salmon was supplied to distributors, online customers and retail shops both in Ireland and across Europe.

A spokesman for the Co Mayo company said it was committed to the highest standards of hygiene and quality. He said the company was working with the authorities to ensure an efficient recall of the affected products.

Food business operators who have bought the affected smoked salmon have been asked to remove it from sale and clearly display a point of sale notice informing customers not to eat it.

Zip International Group LLC of Edison, NJ is recalling herring fillets due to Listeria contamination.

The recalled herring fillet in oil is a product of Russia and was sold to retail grocery stores in New York state between Nov. 1 and Nov. 14. The 400-gram plastic package has a best by date of 18/01/2014 and UPC code of 4607095500208.

The recall was initiated after routine sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets Food Inspectors and subsequent analysis of the product found the product to be positive for Listeria monocytogenes.