First the bad news:

Listeria Recall: Golden Glen Creamery of Bow, WA, in cooperation with the WSDA is voluntarily recalling Red Pepper with Onion & Garlic Cheddar produced on August 30, 2011 because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The Creamery agreed to recall the product after a sample taken by the WSDA returned with a positive result. Samples of the same batch have tested negative through an independent, state-approved lab that Creamery has submitted samples to.

Approximately 124 pounds of the Red Pepper with Onion & Garlic Cheddar were sold from March 1st of this year through June 7th of this year in pre-cut, random weight packages, ranging in size from 1/3 pound pieces to 1/2 pound pieces. The labels read in part: “Medium Cheddar – Red Pepper with Onion & Garlic”, “GOLDEN GLEN CREAMERY” and “Natural handcrafted cheese produced by the Jensen Ladies”, with the three-digit batch code that reads “887”. These products were sold at various local area farmers markets in Skagit, Snohomish and King County, as well as independent retailers in Washington State and Oregon.

Listeria monocytogenes is 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.

E. coli O157:H7 Warning: New York State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel J. Aubertine today warned consumers in and around Chautauqua County to not consume “unpasteurized” raw farm milk from Castle Farms due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination. A routine sample of the milk was taken on June 4, 2012 by an inspector from the Department’s Division of Milk Control and Dairy Services and subsequently tested and discovered to be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. On June 7, 2012, the producer was notified of a preliminary positive test result and who volunteered to suspend raw milk sales until the sample results were confirmed. Test results were confirmed on June 12, 2012 and the producer is now prohibited from selling raw milk until subsequent sampling indicates that the product is free of harmful pathogens.

E. coli O157:H7 causes a diarrheal illness often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop a form of kidney failure called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). HUS is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly. The condition can lead to serious kidney damage and even death.

And, the good news is that no illnesses are reported.