Listeria Outbreak Linked To Cheese Sickens People In 6 States

Authorities are investigating an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections that has been linked to brie and camembert cheese. So far, six states are affected.

Federal, state and local authorities are working together to investigate the multi-state listeria outbreak, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) noted in its announcement. Six people from six states have fallen ill in the outbreak, with California, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey and Texas reporting a case each. Five people have been hospitalized.

It's quite likely, however, that the real number of people who have fallen ill in the outbreak is higher and in more states than so far logged, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is because some people simply recover from listeria without needing medical care or being tested for L. monocytogenes. It's also possible that some of the more recent illnesses haven't been reported yet.

Whole genome sequencing showed that the bacteria from the patients' samples are "closely related genetically," indicating that they fell ill from the same food, the CDC noted. Based on the interviews with the sick people, four out of the five reported eating brie or camembert cheese within the month before they fell ill. One of them remembered the brand being Lidl Premium Brand Brie, the manufacturer of which is Old Europe Cheese.

The company conducted a voluntary recall of their brie and camembert cheeses on Sept. 30. It also stopped producing the cheeses temporarily after authorities collected samples from the Old Europe Cheese facility in Michigan. While "none of the products showed contamination," a sample from the facility tested positive, the company said in its recall announcement.

"WGS showed that the Listeria found in the cooling room is closely related genetically to Listeria from sick people's samples," the CDC noted. "This provides more evidence that people likely got sick from eating cheese made by Old Europe Cheese."

The products were sold nationwide and in Mexico, including in some well-known grocery stores such as Whole Foods, Safeway, Lidl and Stop & Shop, to name a few. They were also sold under various brand names including Lidl, Black Bear, Block & Barrel, Cobblestone and Trader Joe.

The agencies provided a list of the known brand names they were sold under, as well as the stores they were sold at. Further details such as the specific product names, UPC codes, and photos of the labels of the recalled cheeses are also available on the company's recall announcement.

It's worth noting, however, that authorities are still looking at whether additional products are affected. Furthermore, some retailers may have repacked bulk Old Europe Cheese into smaller containers that don't have the original label, according to the FDA.

"If you are unsure where your Brie or Camembert cheese is from, ask your retailer or throw it away," the agency said.

The elderly and those with weakened immune systems are the ones most likely to get listeria infection. In pregnant women, it may cause complications such as stillbirth, miscarriage or a "life-threatening infection" in their newborn.

Customers are being advised to clean any surfaces that may have come in contact with the recalled cheeses, noting that the bacteria are able to survive in refrigerated conditions and easily spread. Those who find that they have symptoms of listeria after consuming the affected cheese should contact their health care provider.