Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture warns consumers to immediately discard BeiHollow Farm brand raw milk cheddar cheese, aged 60 days. Routine testing for pathogens in two retail packages purchased by the department confirmed that the cheese was contaminated with listeria monocytogenes bacteria.
The cheese was distributed by BeiHollow Farm, 314 Chubb Road, in Elizabethville, Dauphin County. The contaminated cheese was sold at Racoon Valley Farm, 593 Racoon Valley Road, in Millerstown, Perry County. Other locations where the product was sold are unknown. To date, the producer has refused to recall products, provide a list of retail outlets selling the cheese, or cooperate with state food safety inspectors’ investigation to determine the extent of the contamination.
Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an illness which has symptoms including fever, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea. Listeriosis mainly affects pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and adults with impaired immune systems. Listeriosis in pregnant women can result in miscarriage, premature delivery, serious infection of the newborn, or stillbirth.
No reported illnesses have been attributed to the product. Anyone who consumed the cheese should consult their physicians if they become ill.
Information about drinking raw milk can be found on the Centers for Disease Control website.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s food safety inspection services help to ensure that food sold in Pennsylvania is safe. For more information about food safety in Pennsylvania, visit agriculture.pa.gov.
Editor’s Note: An image of label that may be on the product is attached.
Contact: Shannon Powers – shpowers@pa.gov, 717.603.2056
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