CDC investigates listeria outbreak linked to cheese

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating a multistate outbreak of listeria that could be linked to soft cheese.

The CDC said the investigation has “not conclusively identified the source of this outbreak, but most people interviewed reported eating soft cheese before becoming ill.”

A total of 24 people across nine states have been infected. Of the 21 who were hospitalized, five were pregnant women, one of whom lost the baby as a result of the infection. And in Ohio, the CDC said one person has died.

{mosads}Of the seven people who specified a brand of cheese they ate, four named Karoun Dairies.

On Wednesday, the San Fernando, Calif.-based company voluntarily recalled and stopped producing a variety of its cheeses due to the possibility of listeria contamination.

Possibly affected products were vacuum packed, in jars or in pails, under the following brands: Karoun, Arz, Gopi, Queso Del Valle, Central Valley Creamery, Gopi and Yanni. Weights varied from 5 ounces to 30 pounds.

The CDC said consumers should not eat, restaurants should not serve and retailers should not sell recalled cheeses.

“These products may be contaminated with Listeria and may make people sick,” the agency said.