Listeria Contamination in Queso Fresco, Fresh Cheese

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today warned consumers not to consume certain “Queso Fresco, Fresh Cheese,” made by Peregrina Cheese Corp., 342 Ten Eyck St., Brooklyn, New York 11206 due to possible Listeria contamination.

The product is contained in a foil wrapped, 14 oz. net weight package with a code of 4461. The consumer warning affects all packages with this code.

A routine sample of the cheese, taken by an inspector from the Department’s Division of Milk Control and Dairy Services on January 26, 2009, was subsequently tested by the New York State Food Laboratory and discovered to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. On February 3, 2009, the manufacturer was notified of the presence of Listeria monocytogenes and the company voluntarily recalled the product.

Listeria contaminated product could cause Listeriosis, a disease that usually causes mild flu-like symptoms in healthy individuals; however in immune-compromised individuals, meningitis and blood poisoning can occur. Pregnant women are also considered a high-risk group, as Listeriosis can also result in stillbirths.

While Peregrina has most of the affected product in its possession, a small quantity of the product was distributed to retail outlets.

To date, no illnesses are known by the Department to be associated with this product.