OLYMPIA - State health officials are warning against eating soft Mexican cheese products made by a Yakima company after a Washington resident was confirmed with listeriosis.
     The affected products made by the Yakima-based Queseria Bendita are subject to a voluntary recall, according to the state Department of Health.
     Health officials linked the illness of a pregnant woman in King County to cheese products contaminated with Listeria. Samples taken from stores and from the plant confirmed the bacteria.
     The woman was ill in January, has since recovered and the baby was delivered without complications. The disease caused by Listeria monocytogenes can be very serious, health official said.
     Healthy people infected with Listeria may have diarrhea or flu-like illness including fever, headache and muscle aches. It can result in bloodstream infection or meningitis.
     People with weak immune systems or other health conditions are at higher risk.
     Women who are infected during pregnancy may pass it to their babies. The illness can result in early delivery or stillbirth.
     Pregnant women and their newborns are 20 times more likely than healthy adults to get a Listeria infection, the health department said.
     Queseria Bendita has announced the recall of three different types of cheeses – Queso Fresco, Panela and Requeson. The products are sold in stores, and also supplied to many restaurants in the Pacific Northwest.
     Health officials urge anyone who has the products not to eat them.
     More information is available at www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm201350.htm, www.doh.wa.gov/Publicat/2010_news/QuesBendList-sp.pdf and www.oregon.gov/DHS/news/2010news/2010-0219a.pdf.
     Listeriosis is mostly a foodborne infection caused by Listeria bacteria, and often is found in soft cheeses, including feta, Brie, Camembert, Roquefort, bleu and Mexican–style cheeses.
     It’s commonly found in raw milk and other ready-to-eat foods — smoked fish, vegetables, salads and items purchased at store delis. The bacteria also may be found in hot dogs and other processed meats.
     More information on Listeriosis is available at www.doh.wa.gov/ehsphl/factsheet/listeriosis.htm.
     Additional information on food safety is available at www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/food/safetytips.html and www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/communicable/diseases/listeriosis.aspx.