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Red Darla Cheese Recall For Listeria

By Dan Flynn and Suzanna Schreck

Red Darla cheese is one of those locavore products that has a unique distribution chain. It's made its way from the Estrella Family Creamery at Montesano, WA to Farmer's Markets in Seattle's U District and Ballard neighborhoods.

The Montesano creamery also has its own retail store, which supplied Red Darla cheese to other retail stores in the Seattle-Tacoma. And, its product was also being sold at a retail market in San Francisco and a cheese shop in Springfield, NJ.

The Red Darla cheese, which was sold from Jan. 1 to Feb. 11, 2010 at the Farmer's Market's in Seattle, is being recalled for possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria 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 recalled cheese is a soft cheese, 3/4 lb wheel, made of cow milk and washed in red wine while aging. The product does not contain a lot code.

No illnesses in connection with this product have been reported to date.

The recall is the result of a routine sampling program by the Washington State Department of Agriculture, which revealed that one wheel of the finished product, contained the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.

Estrella Family Creamery has ceased production and distribution of the product as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), WSDA, and the company continues investigating the cause of the problem.

Consumers who have any Red Darla 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.

Full post as published by Food Safety News on February 13, 2010 (boomark / email).