Estrella Family Creamery Recalls Red Darla Cheese

The Estrella Family Creamery of Montesano, Washington, is recalling its Red Darla cheese 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 infections can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Red Darla cheese was sold in January 2010 through February 11, 2010 at the Ballard and Seattle’s U-District farmer's markets, two Seattle restaurants, retail stores in the Seattle-Tacoma area, and the firm’s retail store in Montesano, Washington; a retail market in San Francisco, California; and a cheese shop in Springfield, New Jersey.

The recalled cheese is a soft cheese, 3/4 lb wheel, made of cow milk and washed in red wine while aging. The product does not contain a lot code.

No illnesses in connection with this product have been reported to date.

The recall is the result of a routine sampling program by the state of Washington Department of Agriculture, which revealed that one wheel of the finished product contained the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Estrella Family Creamery has ceased production and distribution of the product as the FDA, WSDA, and the company continue investigating the cause of the problem.