Former Cheese Manufacturer Pleads Guilty in Listeria Outbreak Tragedy

In a recent case, a former cheese manufacturer and his company have pled guilty to misdemeanor charges stemming from a listeria outbreak that occurred between 2016 and 2017. Johannes Vulto and Vulto Creamery, based in Walton, New York, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce, as announced by the Department of Justice.

Outbreak Details

The outbreak in 2016-2017 resulted in the hospitalization of eight people and the tragic loss of two lives. Vulto Creamery's soft raw cheese was identified as the source of the listeriosis outbreak, prompting a nationwide recall of the raw milk cheeses sold by the company. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that this was the only multistate outbreak of listeriosis in that year.

Investigation Findings

During the investigation, it was revealed that workers at the creamery did not adhere to proper hygiene practices, such as washing their arms before handling the cheese curds. Additionally, FDA investigators discovered that one employee had multiple cuts and abrasions on his arms, further contributing to the contamination. Swabs taken from Vulto's creamery repeatedly tested positive for the bacteria over a period of three years.

Official Statement

U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman for the Northern District of New York emphasized the preventable nature of the tragedy, stating, "This investigation and prosecution holds accountable the defendant and his business who through unsafe practices caused illness and death to consumers in an entirely preventable tragedy."

Legal Action and Consequences

Following the plea, a sentencing date will be determined by a magistrate judge in Syracuse, New York. The creamery was shut down by a federal court in 2017, with Vulto and its owner being prohibited from engaging in food production or distribution in the future.

Ongoing Investigation

Separately, federal investigators are currently looking into another listeria outbreak related to cheese and dairy products sold by Modesto, California-based Rizo-López Foods. This ongoing outbreak has affected at least 26 people in 11 states, with 23 individuals requiring hospitalization. Tragically, two fatalities have been reported, one in California in 2017 and another in Texas in 2020.

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