The goat cheese products being recalled were sold at retail to consumers at the farm itself, at the farmers market in The Plains, Virginia, and sold to restaurants. Consumers can recognize the cheese by the 'Tack House Kitchen' and 'Creamery, Rucker Farm' name. Inspectors from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services discovered the possible contamination during a routine food inspection. Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease.
Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, and nausea.
Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weak immune systems - infants, the frail or elderly, and persons with chronic disease, HIV infection, or those undergoing chemotherapy. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician immediately. The production of cheese has been suspended while the Department and the company continue to investigate the source of the problem. Rucker Farm management has stated they will not to resume sales of goat cheese products until laboratory testing is negative for Listeria monocytogenes, or other pathogens.