Consumers should not eat, restaurants should not serve, and retailers should not sell the recalled cheeses.
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The investigation, a collaboration between the CDC, public health officials in several states and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not conclusively identified the source of this outbreak; however, fifteen (63%) of 24 people with available information are of Middle Eastern or Eastern European descent or shopped at Middle Eastern-style markets.
Fourteen of the Listeria patients lived in California, and there have also been cases in Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Tennessee and Washington. Pregnant women may only have a mild illness, but this infection can cause stillbirth and miscarriage.
Karoun Dairies has released photos of the cheeses recalled for Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
The outbreak, which dates all the way back to August of 2010, involves various Middle-Eastern style soft cheeses, including Feta and Mozarrella, distributed by the brand Karoun Dairies.
The cases, reported from nine states over a five-year period, are associated with cheeses produced by Karoun Dairies, Inc. of San Fernando, California which have been recalled. But CDC said 18 of the people who became ill reported eating soft cheese and four named Karoun brands.
There are five rare DNA fingerprints of Listeria included in this investigation, which whole genome sequencing has shown to be closely related genetically. Products were sold in weights from 5 ounces to 30 pounds.
Listeria generally only affects the elderly, people with compromised immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborn infants. [Top 7 Germs in Food That Make You Sick]. Those who are sick range in age from 1 to 92 and 75% of them are female.
The CDC also recommends you thoroughly wash anywhere the cheese came in contact with, including refrigerator drawers or cutting boards with a solution of one tablespoon chlorine bleach added to one gallon of hot water.
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Earlier this year, Blue Bell Creameries recalled all of its products, including its ice cream and frozen yogurt, because its products were linked to a separate Listeria outbreak that sickened 10 people.
