Cooperstown Cheese Company Recalls Products Because of Possible Health Risk
July 21, 2023
When a company announces a recall, market withdrawal, or safety alert, the FDA posts the company’s announcement as a public service. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.
Company Announcement
Cooperstown Cheese Company of Milford, NY, is recalling 1400 pounds of cheese purchased, sold or distributed from June 21, 2023 to July 10, 2023 because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
Product was distributed in New York State and reached customers through farmers markets, restaurants, and retail stores.
The Listeria was found through routine environmental testing by the firm and during an FDA inspection.
The company has ceased production as they and FDA continue to investigate the problem.
No illnesses have been reported to date.
Review and Recommendations
Although details of the contributing factors that have led to the recall have not been disclosed, there are some areas you can look at within your facilities.
Typically found in soil, this organism is tolerant to many conditions and can survive in refrigerated and ambient conditions, acidic, and salty environments, as well as on foods that have a low water activity.
Once in your facility, this organism can be difficult to eliminate, especially in facilities that have infrastructure-related issues, such as older iron-style drains, cracked floors and walls, and dated equipment with cracks and crevices.
Prevention Areas to Review
- Uniform and Shoe Policies
- Sanitation Effectiveness – Proper Chemical, Concentration, Time, and Temperature
- Environmental Control Measure Effectiveness – Shoe Cleaners, Foot Foamers, etc.
- Environmental Monitoring and Testing Program
- GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) Compliance
- Building Infrastructure – Floors, Drains, Walls, Ceilings
- Maintenance & Preventative Maintenance
- Equipment Sanitary Design and in Good Repair
- Foot Traffic Patterns – Raw and Ready to Eat (RTE)
- Ingredient Sourcing, Testing, and Compliance with Specifications and Storage Temperatures
- Restroom and Breakroom Cleanliness
- Contractor and Visitor Management and Compliance with Standards
- Cross-Contamination Review (ex. Mechanical repairs in raw, then on RTE equipment)
- Utility Monitoring and Testing – Air, Water, Ice, Steam, Compressed Air, Refrigeration,
Together we can drive out recalls worldwide!
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