FUI...Listeria outbreak Washington/Oregon

[Mimilove3]

FUI...Yakima Washington has one reported death and 3 confirmed cases. So mom's if u live in either one just be careful with the cheese. Oregon is just a possibility...

[AnnieBrooke]

It's helpful to be really specific when sharing this kind of info, such as, if it is a specialty food item limited to a particular area and if it has already been recalled.  Just saying "be careful with the cheese" is likely to result in someone in New York thinking they can't eat Velveeta when preggers.  This one looks not only geographically limited but like it is a specific kind of cheese (I think limited to Hispanic cooking) produced by a local, local manufacturer.  Listeria is worth worrying about (I always worried about it when I ate at Subway, which I did a lot when pregs) but it's in many ways a broader subject about using common sense with food storage, not specific to one kind of food.

[Mimilove3]

:-)

[SoccerMom2009]

@Mimi:I know you weren't. I didn't mean to make you think you were either. I was only sharing with you that the same thing happened to me for sharing a similar story. :)

[ExcitedAprilMommy]

well i hope i certainly dont get it, im from oregon

[Mimilove3]

@Soccermom2009 and evryone Else it wasnt my intention to scare anyone. I clearly stated in Yakima Washington so people knew where the cases where from. And the possibilities of surrounding areas. I just wanted to inform not freak people out, becouse when I read the post about the caramel apples I took it as a BE CAREFUL and not like a stressor or freak out..

[SoccerMom2009]

I happen to know from a 2nd party the owners of this business in WA. I'm actually from WA. The owner did a voluntary recall which speaks volumes. Their was also a recall in caramel apples a while back in Bakersfield CA, & some commentor mom basically reprimanded me for "stressing" out mom's on this app for posting the article. Anyway, we needn't worry. Just be cautious & educate ourselves to further prevent unnecessary panic & contamination as the post from above has already advocated.

[AnnieBrooke]

I just looked up the news story, you're right that it was apparently a soft cheese, evidently made from unpasteurized milk.  The brand is Quesaria Bandita.

Here is what the news story also said  "Some steps everyone can take to reduce the risk of acquiring a Listeria infection — avoiding unpasteurized milk or foods made from unpasteurized milk (including cheese); washing raw fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating; and thoroughly cooking raw food from animal sources, such as beef, pork, or poultry."

[AnnieBrooke]

Do you know for sure that cheese was the problem?  All cheese made in the U.S. is pasteurized, meaning that a local outbreak from U.S. cheese is unlikely.  But it can be found on cold cuts that have not been refrigerated cold enough (like at a deli or a sandwich place).  Only cheese imported from countries that don't require the milk to be pasteurized before it is made into cheese have been implicated in listeria outbreaks.

[lkaykirk]

Bump