State regulators in Michigan have issued a public warning about raw cheese sold at farmers markets in the state.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said some cheese produced by Hickory Knoll Farms Creamery LLC of Onondaga, MI, may have been made and stored under unsanitary conditions without pasteurization or antibiotic testing.
Inspectors said all products will be labeled with the name “Hickory Knoll Farms.”
The cheese was sold directly from the factory or at farmers markets throughout Michigan.
Consumers who have purchased these products are asked to throw them away.
The farmers’ markets where state officials believed the cheese was sold include:
- Hickory Knoll Farms Creamery, 2655 Gould Rd, Onondaga, MI 49264
- Allen farmers market in Lansing
- City of East Lansing Farmers Market in East Lansing
- Meridian Township Farmers Market in Okemos
- Fulton Street Farmers Market in Grand Rapids
- East Lansing Underground Market in East Lansing
The affected products include:
- Chévre (regular, sun-dried tomato, basil, garlic, Rio Grande, blueberry almond or garlic-basil pesto with pine nuts)
- Feta
- goat’s milk cheeses
- Charbonnel (Tomme)
- Cheddar
- Cabra Borracho (drunk goat)
- Quixote (Manchego)
- Rhythm (Caerphilly)
- Cow’s milk cheeses
- Cheese curds (regular, sun-dried tomato, basil, garlic or garlic dill)
- Fresh mozzarella
- Lounell (Tomme)
- Lounell al Vino (soaked in wine)
- Harmony (soaked in beer)
- Marie (Camembert style)
- White Cheddar Cheese
- White Cheddar Cheese With Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Garlic
- Poitou (raclette)
- LeaMin (Gruyere)
- Kronberg (Appenzeller)
- Raw Milk Asiago
- Gouda
- Pepper Jack
- Parmesan cheese
No illnesses or hospitalizations have been reported, but state health officials said consuming food produced under unsanitary conditions and not fully pasteurized or tested for antibiotic residues could pose a significant health risk. These risks increase for the young, the elderly, people with weakened immune systems, and others who are allergic to certain antibiotics.
Anyone who has used any of these products and has symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice (yellowing of the skin), fever, abdominal cramps, loss of appetite, weakness, headache, tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, tingling , dizziness, wheezing or other symptoms related to a foodborne illness or allergic reaction, it is recommended that you seek medical advice.
Consumers in possession of this cheese product are encouraged to discard it.
Consumers can call MDARD with questions or concerns at 800-292-3939.
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