August 27, 2010
Nationwide Recall on Dairy Products from Company in Missouri
Morningland Dairy of Mountain View, Mo. is voluntarily recalling all products produced by the company since January 2010 due to reports of traces of Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus found in the company's cheese products at a retail facility in California. The cheese is sold nationwide, including 23 retail outlets in Missouri (see retailer's list below). No illnesses related to this recall have been reported. The cheese samples were seized June 30 in California. Missouri officials were made aware of the California department's test results Thursday.
Missouri agriculture officials are working in coordination with state health officials and the Food and Drug Administration. All production and distribution were suspended at Morningland Dairy after the California Department of Food and Agriculture notified Missouri that traces of bacteria were found in cheese products at the retail facility in California. Products included in the recall are all raw milk cheese labeled as Morningland Dairy and Ozark Hills Farm including products in various sizes of vac-sealed plastic in retail packages dating from Jan. 1, 2010 (code A10) through June 25, 2010 (code F250). These codes can be found on the label located on the top of the products. Morningland products subject to recall have been distributed over the past six months to the lower 48 states.
Listeria is an organism that can cause serious infections, particularly in pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. Although some infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, Listeria infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth, premature delivery or infection of the fetus. Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Staphylococcus aureus is a bacteria that usually causes rapid food poisoning symptoms, including nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramping. In more severe cases, headache, muscle cramping and transient changes in blood pressure and pulse may occur. All people are susceptible, however such cases have occurred most commonly among the elderly, infants and severely debilitated persons.
Inspectors from the Missouri Department of Agriculture continue to work with officials from the state Department of Health and Senior Services and the Food and Drug Administration. Morningland Dairy is fully cooperating with authorities.
Consumers are encouraged not to consume any Morningland Dairy products listed in the recall and should visit mda.mo.gov or dhss.mo.gov for updates. County health authorities will be conducting checks of local retail outlets to make sure all the recalled cheese products are removed from the shelves.
**Morningland Dairy reported that recalled products were distributed to the following retailers in Missouri:
Arnold
Good 4U Nutrition
Ava
Jeans Healthway
Columbia
Hyvee Health Mart
Clovers Natural Foods
Root Cellar
Main Squeeze
Columbia Real Food Coop
Jackson
Jones Heritage Farm
Kansas City
Blu Bird Bistro
Rolla
Foods for Health
Sparta
Seasons Harvest
Springfield
Mama Jeans
Farmer Gastro Pub
Home Grown Foods
St. Louis
Local Harvest
The Big Cheese
Sappington Farmers' Market
Fox River Dairy
Webster Grove
The Natural Way
Wooldridge
Moniteau County FDS
Tecumseh
East Wind
West Plains
Meadowbrook Foods
**Read related news release from the Missouri Department of Agriculture