Listeria Warning For Mecox Bay Cheese

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball warned people not to consume Mecox Bay Dairy Mecox Sunrise raw milk cheese made by Mecox Bay Dairy, LLC, located in Bridgehampton, due to possible Listeria contamination. No illnesses have been reported as of yet, but a routine sample taken by an inspector on April 30 was discovered to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

         The product is packaged with the names “Mecox Bay Dairy Mecox Sunrise raw milk cheese” or simply “Mecox Dairy Sunrise” and may or may not display the plant number 36-8445 and a code of L2148. The consumer alert affects all packages with this code; however, any package with an unknown code date purchased after March 1, 2019 should not be consumed.

         This product was sold at the Cheese and Spice Market, Wading River; Citarella stores in East Hampton, Southampton, and Bridgehampton; Schiavoni’s IGA in Sag Harbor; American Hotel in Sag Harbor; and Fairview Farm in Bridgehampton.  The farmers and their products were also at Riverhead Farmers’ Market and the Mecox Bay Dairy Farm Store.

         On May 2, the manufacturer was notified of a preliminary positive test result and voluntarily recalled the product from its customers. Test results were confirmed as positive for Listeria monocytogenes on May 7. The cheese will be destroyed by the manufacturer.

         Listeria-contaminated product may cause Listeriosis, a disease that usually causes mild flu-like symptoms in healthy individuals; however, in immune-compromised individuals, meningitis and blood poisoning can occur. Pregnant women are also considered a high-risk group, as Listeriosis can also result in stillbirths.

         Consumers with questions about the recalled product can contact Art Ludlow at 631-219-5714.