Highlights
- This outbreak investigation is over. However, people could continue to get sick because recalled cheeses may still be in homes, restaurants, or retail locations. Consumers, restaurants, and retailers unaware of the recall could eat, serve, or sell them. Read the Advice to Consumers, Restaurants, and Retailers(http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/soft-cheeses-09-15/advice-consumers.html).
- CDC collaborated with public health officials in several states and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections (listeriosis). Listeria infection can cause a serious, life-threatening illness.
- Five rare DNA fingerprints of Listeria were included in this investigation.
- Whole genome sequencing showed that the Listeria strains with the five rare DNA fingerprints were closely related genetically.
- Thirty people infected with one of the closely related Listeria strainswere reported from 10 states since June 16, 2010.
- Twenty-eight people were hospitalized. Six illnesses were pregnancy-related; one resulted in a fetal loss. Three deaths were reported from California (2) and Ohio (1).
- Epidemiologic and laboratory information indicates that soft cheeses distributed by Karoun Dairies were the likely source of this outbreak.
- Twenty-one (75%) of 28 ill people with available information reported eating soft cheese in the month before becoming ill.
- Three of seven ill people who specified a brand of cheese reported brands distributed by Karoun Dairies. No other brand of soft cheese was reported more than once.
- FDA isolated Listeria monocytogenes from two environmental samples collected in September 2015 from the Central Valley Cheese, Inc. manufacturing facility in Turlock, California. Central Valley Cheese, Inc. manufactures cheese for Karoun Dairies. Whole genome sequencing showed that the two isolates were closely related genetically to isolates from ill people.
- Whole genome sequencing showed that five Listeria isolates collected in 2010 from the same facility were also closely related genetically to isolates from ill people.
- On September 16, 2015, Karoun Dairies, Inc. voluntarily recalled[PDF – 2 pages] 15 types of soft cheeses that the company distributes due to possible contamination with Listeria.
- Products were sold under the following brands: Karoun, Arz, Gopi, Queso Del Valle, Central Valley Creamery, and Yanni.
- Products are vacuum packed, in jars or in pails. Weights vary from 5 ounces to 30 pounds.
- A full list of recalled cheeses is available on the Advice to Consumers, Restaurants, and Retailers(http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/soft-cheeses-09-15/advice-consumers.html) page.
- Consumers should not eat, restaurants should not serve, and retailers should not sell recalled cheeses. These products may be contaminated with Listeria and may make people sick.
FoodWorld 