On Tuesday, a man from Delaware County was sentenced to probation for selling raw milk cheese that caused a listeria outbreak resulting in the death of two people back in 2016.
Reports of illnesses have surfaced in various states, including Vermont, Florida, Connecticut, and New York.
Johannes Vulto, 64, was sentenced to three years of probation by U.S. Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks in Syracuse.
According to a news release by federal prosecutors, Vulto Creamery was sentenced to one year probation, and its owner was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine and complete 240 hours of community service. The company is no longer in operation.
In March, Vulto admitted guilt to a misdemeanor charge of introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce.
A listeria outbreak that caused eight hospitalizations and two deaths was traced back to the cheese produced at his creamery in Walton.
In March 2017, the creamery was shut down by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and a complete recall was subsequently issued.
According to Vulto’s plea agreement, swabs collected from the creamery showed positive results for listeria species multiple times from July 2014 to February 2017. It has been found that raw milk cheese has a higher likelihood of causing listeriosis than pasteurized cheese, with a difference of 112 times.
Listeria is a group of species that comprises both innocuous and potentially fatal strains, including L. monocytogenes. This particular strain has the ability to cause listeriosis, which is a serious illness in humans.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, listeriosis infection can spread from the gut to the intestines and result in symptoms such as fever, flu-like symptoms, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures. It is estimated that Listeria is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. from foodborne illness, resulting in approximately 260 deaths each year.
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