At least 2 people in Rhode Island developed infections from Listeria monocytogenes, according to an alert posted by the Rhode Island Department of Health.

The alert did not include details about the 2 victims, but officials specifically wanted pregnant women not to eat Hispanic-style soft cheeses that are made with unpasteurized raw milk.

According to the health alert:

Queso fresco, queso blanco, panela, and asadero-style cheeses are only considered safe when they are marked with a professional label stating that they are ‘pasteurized’ or ‘made from pasteurized milk.”

Homemade queso fresco is also sometimes made with raw milk. The problem is that pregnant women are significantly more likely to develop infections with Listeria compared to other healthy adults.

Pregnant women may experience mild flu-like symptoms, or they may not feel sick at all — but the infection can still severely affect their unborn babies. Pregnant women with listeriosis frequently suffer a miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth, or infection of a newborn baby.

Anyone who has eaten soft cheese recently and developed symptoms of Listeria should seek emergency medical attention. These symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and sometimes diarrhea or other gastrointestinal problems.

Source: RIDOH Warns of Dangers of Eating Queso Fresco Made with Unpasteurized Milk

Scales of JusticeEditor’s note: For more information on food poisoning outbreak lawsuits and your legal rights, please contact the nationally recognized food poisoning lawyers at Ron Simon & Associates. Ron Simon’s groundbreaking work on behalf of victims in recent national foodborne illness outbreaks has been featured on NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX and virtually all other major television networks and print media.
Click Here for a Free Confidential Case Consultation

Posted by Elizabeth Bradley

Lifelong consumer advocate. Pop culture nerd. Grammar evangelist. Wannabe organizer. Travel addict. Zombie fan.

One Comment

  1. http://www.ri.gov/press/view/31423

    This alert states that their investigation “continues to investigate two cases of listeria.” The subsequent alert about queso from raw milk suggests that the investigation has linked the listeria to the 2 cases. I really question about the bias this investigation must have. They do not feel comfortable stating the link, however they use the current situation to create a negative story about raw milk. It is slanderous at worst (The investigation fails to link listeria with raw milk) and unethical at best (The investigation links listeria and raw milk without the facts as not all raw milk is the same.) ALL raw food can carry disease depending on how it is grown and raw milk is not inherently more diseased assuming it is produced with safe practices.

Comments are closed.