Cheese Contaminated With Listeria Recalled in Four states

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a recall on Hilltop Meadow Farm brand after it discovered a potentially fatal organism in a specific cheese.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has warned consumers to throw specific batches of the "60 Day Aged Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese," with sell-by dates of September 21, in the bin. The warning comes amid the company's voluntary recall after listeria monocytogenes bacteria was discovered following a Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture safety inspection.

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria often found in contaminated foods and can cause an infection called listeriosis that can lead to death for young children, elderly people or other groups with weakened immune systems. Other symptoms include high fever, intense headaches, sickness and diarrhea, while infected pregnant women can have miscarriages and stillbirths.

Listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness, or food poisoning, in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Each year, an estimated 1,600 people become ill from listeria, with approximately 260 dying.

Fortunately, "no reported illnesses have been attributed to the product," according to the FDA report. People who consume the product and show signs of illness should immediately contact their physicians.

The FDA states the bacteria can be found in moist environments such as soil, water, decaying vegetation and animals. Foods like raw vegetables, seafood and meats can become contaminated from the soil or from manure used as fertilizer. Unpasteurized milk is also at risk. Animals can carry the bacteria without showing signs of sickness and meat or diary products from these animals can be contaminated.

The "tainted" Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese bears the Hilltop Meadow Farm label as well as the product descriptions "From A2/A2 Milk" and "Made from 100% Grassfed Cow's Milk." The product was sold in ½ , one, 2.5, and 5 pounds sizes at their on-farm store and at the following locations:

• Meadow Run Farms, 727 Rettew Mill Road, Littitz, Lancaster County
• Shady Acres Farm Market, 8514 Elizabethtown Road, Elizabethtown, Lancaster County
• Willow Haven Farm, 7686 Herber Road, New Tripoli, Leigh County
• Healthy Habits Natural Market, 1120 Center Turnpike, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County
• Little Leaf Natural Products, 505 S Main Street, Montrose, Susquehanna County
• Whole Earth Center, 360 Nassau St, Princeton, New Jersey
• Healthy Way, 396 S Main St, Massena, New York
• Northstar Bison Store, 225 Birch Avenue, Cameron, Wisconsin

Newsweek has contacted the Hilltop Meadow Farm and U.S. Food and Drug Administration for comment via email.

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