One Dead, Seven Sickened in Listeria Outbreak Linked to Cheese

NBC News ^ | 2/21/14

[Libloather]

One person has died and three newborns have become ill in an outbreak of listeria linked to Hispanic-style cheese.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that the death occurred in California. Seven additional illnesses were reported in Maryland.

[exDemMom]

Funny, I was just telling someone that I don’t even recall having met a Spanish immigrant from Spain here.

I only have to look at my son to see a Spanish immigrant. He was born in Spain, and they give citizenship to all children born there.

[exDemMom]

We need an agency to oversee food production and safety standards, so that something like this never happens again.

If it weren't for that government agency, we would never have known that this particular cheese was a problem. Who do you think the illnesses were reported to, who determined that there might be a problem, and who did the investigation to find this out? Also, who ordered the recall of those cheeses?

Left to the "market", those cheeses would still be making people sick, but no one would ever know except for the attending physicians.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Mexicans are firm believers in some homemade products that Americans would only buy in stores. This includes cheese and, of all things, bologna. They think of it in the same light as home canning.

Crema Mexicana (aka Table Cream) is somewhat similar to Crème fraîche, which is a milder sour cream and cooks better. Most retail sour cream, heavy cream, and some milks are “ultra pasteurized”, which really fouls their flavor. But hey, who doesn’t like milk so processed that it doesn’t need to be refrigerated until opened? In any event, homemade Crema Mexicana and Crème fraîche are much, much tastier than the retail versions.

Queso Mexicano (Fresh Mexican cheese (mild)) and Ricotta Cheese.

http://www.mexicoinmykitchen.com/2009/06/how-to-make-fresh-mexican-cheesecomo.html

Other Mexican cheeses.

Queso Blanco- very similar to Monterrey Jack or Mozzarella in flavor
Queso Fresco- crumbles easily
Panela- crumbles very easily and has a slightly salty flavor
Requesón- a very soft texture similar to Italian ricotta cheese
Queso Quesadilla- mild in flavor
Asadero- stronger flavor
Manchego- yellow color and tangy flavor
Oaxaca- similar texture to string cheese
Chihuahua- similar flavor to a mild cheddar

Hard, strong flavored cheeses.

Cotija- strong flavor, similar to Italian Parmesan
Enchilado or Anejo Enchilado- very strong flavor and coated in chile powder or paprika

[9YearLurker]

The same basic kind of cheese is made throughout Latin America. It is often sold here in Hispanic markets with country-specific designations.

[Bigg Red]

Here is a link to the website of the company that produces this stuff (Misspellings abound.):

http://roosfoods.com/aboutus.php

Sounds like the junk is sold only in specialty stores.

[GOPJ]

You know, we really need the government to regulate this. We need an agency to oversee food production and safety standards, so that something like this never happens again.

Maybe someone could write a book about the filth in these processing plants... they could call it something like "The Jungle"... a good nom de plume for the aspiring writer could be ... Upton Sinclair ... who knows, it might lead to something.

[Bigg Red]

Here is the website of the company that produced the cheese in question:

http://roosfoods.com/aboutus.php

[Bigg Red]

No, thanks. I really don’t like the extras I might get.

Lord Lister was a brilliant man,

[goodwithagun]

Praise be to Big Gov for keeping us safe from ourselves! All hail Big Gov!

You’re use of quotation marks around the word market implies you don’t believe in it, or at least question its worth. Take that crap to DU.

[CatherineofAragon]

"Does “Hispanic style” cheese go well with crazy ass crackers?"

LOL!

[GailA]

Hope that is tongue and cheek. For a starter there is NO HUMAN BEING at the FDA BAD DRUG HOT LINE, just another failed computer system like 0’care’s. And you have to be your own detective to boot.

They insist on drug warnings, and side effects to be listed, with your prescriptions, they do NOT INSIST on how successful the drug is. My pain management doc said when Lyrica which is a Epilepsy seizure drug, was first intro’d for Fibromyalgia (FMS) pain, they were all ecstatic over it, glowing reports from Big Pharma Reps. Turns out a full 50% stopped taking it due to the most horrendous SIDE EFFECTS. It is now being expanded to Peripheral Neuopathy patients, many diabetics develop it. NOR are most doctors well educated on those SIDE EFFECTS! Just check it out. These are what are listed, need more info you have to did deep into the blogs for that. http://www.rxlist.com/lyrica-side-effects-drug-center.htm

NARCO is going to replace Lore Tabs, less Tylenol, just as addictive, and MORE side effects.

Chestor, Lipitor became the #1,2 Cholesterol drug through a slick multimillion $ ad campaign. They are the worst side effect Cholesterol drug on the market, older ones that are much cheaper or generic work just as well with less side effects. NOTE to SENIORS 40mg is MAX dose of these 2 drugs, anything a doctor orders over that is a OD dose.

When I was in the hospital after a nasty fall that bruised my entire AB wall and Ribs, nothing broken, 3 day stay for test, IDIOT internist prescribed for AB PAIN CYTOTEC, which is a ABORTION DRUG! Good thing I had my Tablet and looked up any drug that was prescribed.

BE careful not to touch any mags or books in your doctors office waiting room, they carry many viruses especially one like the Cruise Ship one and they last on the surface of them for hours or days. Bring your own reading material and keep it in your hand.

[goodwithagun]

Yes, I speak fluent sarcasm. I’m no fan of Big Gov and her alphabet programs run amuck.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

The major human pathogen in the Listeria genus is L. monocytogenes. It is found in soil, which can lead to vegetable contamination. Animals can also be carriers.

The five most common carriers of Listeria are canned and raw seafood (no sushi for you); fruits of all kinds; foods that are refrigerated for long periods of time; preserved and smoked meats; root vegetables and ground-grown vegetables like squash.

So, Mexican cheeses are pretty low on the totem pole. Yet at the same time, they are very tasty. I’m a big fan of both homemade Crème fraîche and Crema Mexicana.

You should be able to get the retail version of creama at the store, and while good, the homemade is so much better.

[Darksheare]

Sounds amazingly disgusting.

[Mastador1]

“Hispanic-style cheese”? Do they mean Mexican cheese? Did I miss a memo as to how we’re not allowed to describe people or things from Mexico as “Mexican” any more? And if the cheese was locally-made, why not mention that?

Maybe the cheese was made by residents of Hispaniola, at least that is what runs through my mind whenever the word Hispanic comes up.

[exDemMom]

You’re use of quotation marks around the word market implies you don’t believe in it, or at least question its worth. Take that crap to DU.

My use of the quotations around the word "market" indicates that I recognize that libertarians have a belief system about what a market is and what it does that doesn't correspond with reality. The belief that "the market" can somehow guarantee food safety, despite an utter lack of mechanisms to do so is just that--a belief. In reality, the market is the economic system--it is very good at setting wages and prices. Just as I wouldn't expect a debate about the best way to grow tomatoes to be settled by who can swim the fastest, I wouldn't expect the market to be able to determine whether a particular food product is contaminated, because it is the wrong tool for that.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Hispanic-style Cheese???

What is “Hispanic-Style?” La Reconqueso? Refried cheese? Dulce la Cheesy? Cheesy Gonzales? Gringo de Cheesico?

Maryland “Freak State” PING!