Four people have been indicted for practices which federal authorities say endangered public safety.
The indictment issued yesterday alleges that owners, operators, and employees of certain cheese companies were purposely selling a cheese product that failed to meet the standards of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The four people are being accused of taking cheese returned by customers because of the presence of mold and then washing off the visible traces of mold before reselling it to other consumers. Tests of the cheese allegedly proved the presence of E. coli and salmonella, as well as other bacteria.
The persons indicted are facing conspiracy charges and committing violations against food safety law. The moldy and fungal cheese was distributed under the name Queso Cincho de Guerrero. This cheese was imported by a company based out of Illinois and then distributed across the country by a Wisconsin company. Each of those companies is owned by one of the indicted parties.
The cheese, which came in 35 and 40 pound wheels, was recalled in 2007. Until that point, it had been available for purchase in Michigan, Illinois, Georgia, Texas, and Indiana. Although 110,000 pounds of the compromised cheese was shipped across the country in 2007, the indictment doesn’t reference any reports of people becoming ill.
As a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles, I’m used to seeing recalls that come about because of a simple error, but if these charges are proven true, then it demonstrates a certain willingness to purposely imperil public safety. I hope as a Riverside personal injury attorney that no other companies out there are utilizing these kinds of business practices.
According to news sources, a recall has been issued for All Natural Ackawi Cheese and All Natural Chives Cheese after it was discovered that the products could potentially be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
The company, Green Cedar Dairy, announced the recall after a sample of the cheese was found to be contaminated with Listeria. The recalled products have Plant # 26941 printed on the label and come in 12-14 oz. sizes. The cheeses also have a sell by date July 1, 2012 that can be found printed on the back of the package.
There have been two reports of human listeriosis that may have been exposed to the recalled cheese products.
Consumers with the recalled product should stop using it and return it to the point of purchase immediately. For additional questions, consumers can contact the company at (313) 584-4499.
As a product liability lawyer Los Angeles, I’ve seen recalls of this kind in the past and know the severity of the hazards they entail. I hope this information can help raise awareness about this recalled product. If you or a loved one has been injured through the use or consumption of a defective product, speak with a personal injury lawyer Los Angeles to learn about the legal options available to you. Please, continue to visit our blog for regular updates about unsafe and dangerous consumer products.
Fonterra is conducting a recall of their Mainland cheese after a metal fragment appeared among the contents of one package, according to news reports.
Although no one has been injured, Fonterra is issuing a recall as a precaution. Consumers are advised not to consume the products, but to return them to the store they purchased them for a full refund.
The products affected include:
Mainland Tasty Block 500g Best Before date of 28 March 2012 (Batches JI and JE)
Mainland Tasty Block 700g Best before date of 28 April 2012 (Batch JF)
Mainland Tasty Block 1kg Best before date of 28 December 2011 (Batch BD)
Mainland Tasty Block 1kg Best before date of 28 January 2012 (Batches AB, AC and AD)
Mainland Tasty Block 1kg Best before date of 28 February 2012 (Batch BF)
As a product defect lawyer, I have seen food recalls like this one and I know that, with as much testing goes into food products before they are presented for sale, mistakes can still be made. Although our Los Angeles personal injury law firm does not handle these type of cases there are food recall lawyers out there that can help your or a loved one if you have been affected by a recall such as this one. If you notice a defect in a product you have purchased, please notify the company for consumer safety purposes.
