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E. coli Cheese Recall: Highest FDA Risk Warning Issued
20 Nov
Summary
- Two Washington companies recalled cheese due to E. coli risk.
- FDA issued its highest Class I risk warning for the recalled cheese.
- At least three E. coli O103 cases reported in Oregon and Washington.
Twin Sisters Creamery and The Peterson Company in Washington are facing a voluntary recall of cheese products due to potential contamination with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and E. coli O103. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified these recalls as Class I, its most serious risk category, signaling a significant threat to public health. This classification means there is a high probability that consuming the affected products could lead to severe health consequences or even death.
The recalls began on October 25, with Twin Sisters Creamery initiating its own voluntary recall. The Peterson Company followed suit the next day, recalling Twin Sisters Creamery-branded products. As of the article's reporting, at least three cases of STEC infection caused by E. coli O103 have been identified in Oregon and Washington. One reported instance involved a person in Oregon who consumed Twin Sisters Creamery Farmhouse cheese before falling ill.
E. coli infections remain a significant public health issue in the United States, with millions of illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths attributed to various strains annually. The FDA's Class I recall underscores the severity of this particular contamination event, urging consumers to be aware of the identified batch codes associated with the recalled cheese products. Twin Sisters Creamery has stated that no cheese from their brand is currently available for sale or shipping.
