Grassy Meadows Dairy of Howe Ind-Contaminated Cheese
Contaminated Cheese products have been distributed in the State of Indiana in the following counties Allen, Elkhart, St. Joseph, and Tippecanoe. The establishments are as follows 1.Three Rivers Food Co-op in Fort Wayne (260-424-8812), 2.Maple City Market in Goshen (574-537-0885), 3.Crystal Valley Organic in Middlebury (574-825-1596 ext.1), 4.Garden Patch in Mishawaka (574-255-3151), and 5.Sunspot Natural Market in West Lafayette (765-464-1555). Please conduct effectiveness checks to assure the contaminated cheese products made with raw milk have been pulled of the shelves. If any of the products are found, please notify Dan Gala at 317-233-7360.
The following information has been received by our office from the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. (BOAH).
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Denise Derrer, 317-227-0308
CONSUMER WARNING: CONTAMINATED CHEESE
INDIANAPOLIS (30 January 2008)—Routine surveillance by the Indiana State Board of Animal Health’s Dairy Division revealed high levels of staphylococcus aureus (or “staph”) in several raw milk cheeses manufactured by Grassy Meadows dairy of Howe, Ind. Because of the facility’s location, consumers in Ohio and Michigan, as well as Indiana, should also check their refrigerators for these items.
Products of concern include, but are not limited to, Colby (lot no. 210317 and 19177), Jalapeno natural cheese (lot no. 2617, 21017 and 11017), “Homemade” cheese (lot no. 19267 and 19227), Monterey Jack (lot no. 18207 and 2937), and garlic pepper cheese (lot no. 19147). All are sold in wedges or blocks of various weights.
Due to the nature of the manufacturing process for raw milk cheese, BOAH advises consumers not to eat any cheese from this facility purchased prior to January 30, 2008. According to Terry Philibeck, Director of BOAH Dairy Divison, the agency has not yet been able to identify when the staph contamination began. Cheese purchased prior to January may be contaminated.
Grassy Meadows products were sold directly to consumers from the dairy farm, located in LaGrange County, Ind., as well as more than a dozen retail health food stores in Northeastern/Fort Wayne Indiana region. BOAH is working to secure a complete list of retails outlets that carry this product.
All the samples taken indicated higher-than-allowed levels of staph. No consumer illness or complaints have been reported.
Staph infections can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, headache and muscle cramping. The greatest health risk is to the very young, the very old and those with compromised immune systems.
The State Board of Animal Health is cooperating with the Indiana State Department of Health to update county health departments statewide as retail outlets are identified.
Consumers should not consume these products, but return them to their place of purchase.
