Huntington Beach, CA, February 19, 2024
Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted information about the recall of hundreds of cases of Aged Cotija Mexican Grating Cheese by a cheese manufacturer in the San Joaquin Valley. The recall occurred after routine sampling by the Hawaii State Department of Health’s Food and Drug Branch revealed the product contained Listeria monocytogenes.
According to the recall notice, Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. It also warns that although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, infection can cause miscarriage and stillbirths among pregnant women.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates about 1,600 people get listeriosis, the name of the infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, each year in the U.S.” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “Tragically, CDC also reports that about 260 die annually from the infection. At LA Testing, we are dedicated to helping companies and public health officials in their efforts to prevent contaminated foods from reaching the public. With multiple laboratories in California, our food scientists offer testing services to identify a wide range microbial pathogens and chemical contaminants. These services are instrumental for testing raw ingredients and finished products, as well as for evaluating harvesting equipment, production surfaces, and for confirming disinfection procedures at processing and manufacturing facilities.”
To learn more about microbial testing or other food, beverage and labeling services, please visit www.LATesting.com or www.FoodTestingLab.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794.
About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for environmental and indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, bacteria, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.