The Food and Drug Administration is aggressively cracking down on raw-milk cheese in the Pacific Northwest.
The Food and Drug Administration is more aggressively cracking down on raw-milk cheese in the Pacific Northwest.
Many local foodies prize raw-milk cheese for its flavor and purity, but harmful bacteria such as listeria are common in raw-milk cheeses.
The FDA says it is not targeting raw-milk producers.
“We treat them the same way we treat any other industry or producer, no matter how large or small,” says Alan Bennett, spokesman in Portland for the FDA. “If there are violations of (good manufacturing practices) and we find listeria, we’re going to take action.”
Still, Dr. David Acheson, former associate commissioner for foods at the agency, says the FDA is worried about risks associated with raw milk.
“I think that there is a groundswell that is beginning to emerge in FDA,” Acheson says. “There is a strong feeling of concern about the public health implication of any raw milk, whether it be fluid or whether it be a raw-milk cheese that’s not been adequately aged.”
Read more at OregonLive.com.
{biztweet}raw-milk cheese{/biztweet}
