1,400 pounds of cheese sold in New York may be contaminated with listeria

1,400 pounds of cheese from Cooperstown Cheese Company, based in Milford, NY, have been recalled due to listeria concerns, the Food and Drug Administration announced Friday.

The FDA issued a warning encompassing a number of the company’s cheeses that were purchased, sold and distributed through farmer’s markets, restaurants and retail stores from June 21, 2023 to July 10, 2023, over fears of listeria monocytogenes contamination.

No illnesses have been reported as of Friday.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The illness can be especially dangerous for pregnant women, as it affects the fetus, potentially causing miscarriages and stillbirths.

It also can seriously affect adults 65 and older, newborns and those with weakened immune systems.

The cheeses that were recalled were labeled as Jersey Girl, Toma Celena, SK, Jersey Gold, Marielle, Jersey Girl with garlic/rosemary, Jersey Girl spring onion, Bobby’s got the Blues, Toma Torino, Jersey Gold with garlic, and Abbie.

The FDA noted that when cut and wrapped, the products could last around two weeks.

The bacteria was found during a “routine environmental testing” carried out by the company and an FDA inspection.

The Post reached out to Cooperstown Cheese Company for comment.

The cheesemaker previously earned praise from the likes of Westchester Magazine and CNY News.

The source of the potential contamination is unclear, but bacteria can sometimes make its way into raw milk if there was contact with animal poop or unsanitary conditions at the farm, per the CDC.

Mild symptoms of listeria include fever, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, according to the FDA, and more severe symptoms can include a stiff neck, headache and convulsions.

About 1,600 people in the US are diagnosed with listeria each year, according to The Cleveland Clinic, and it’s typically contracted from eating contaminated food.

This is not the first time Cooperstown Cheese Company has warned of listeria contamination.

In 2017, the cheesemaker recalled various batches of its roasted garlic cheddar cheese and Toma Celena selection over bacteria concerns, The Times Union reported.

Consumers who bought any of the recalled products can return them to where they were purchased for a refund. Contact Sharon Tomaselli of Cooperstown Cheese Company at (978) 257-4635 for more information.