Warning issued for raw milk cheese because of positive test results for Listeria

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture warns that consumers should discard “Hilltop Meadow Farm” brand ’60 Day Aged Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese’ with sell by dates of Sept. 21 or earlier. Testing of this cheese confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.

The Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese from Hilltop Meadow Farm, 153 martin Road, Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, is being voluntarily recalled by the farm, and was sold in ½-pound, 1-pound, 2.5-pound and 5-pound sizes at their on-farm store and at the following locations:

Meadow Run Farms, 727 Rettew Mill Road, Littitz, Lancaster County
Shady Acres Farm Market, 8514 Elizabethtown Road, Elizabethtown, Lancaster County
Willow Haven Farm, 7686 Herber Road, New Tripoli, Leigh County
Healthy Habits Natural Market, 1120 Center Turnpike, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County
Little Leaf Natural Products, 505 S Main Street, Montrose, Susquehanna County
Whole Earth Center, 360 Nassau St, Princeton, New Jersey
Healthy Way, 396 S Main St, Massena, New York
Northstar Bison Store, 225 Birch Avenue, Cameron, Wisconsin

The tainted Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese is labeled with the Hilltop Meadow Farm label and designations “From A2/A2 Milk” and “Made from 100% Grassfed Cow’s Milk” product descriptions.

No reported illnesses have been attributed to the product, but people who consumed the Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese should consult their physicians if they become ill.

About Listeria infections
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten any recalled product and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical treatment and tell their doctors about the possible Listeria exposure.

Also, anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products should monitor themselves for symptoms during the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop. 

Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses. 

Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections, and other complications. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.