In a surprising move, the Food and Drug Administration forced the state of Washington's most well-known artisan cheesemakers to shut down, saying the product could be contaminated with bacteria that can cause serious illness. Following Estrella's refusal to issue a recall, on Oct 21, the FDA took action by seizing all cheeses, including in-process and finished products (labeled and unlabeled), held on the premises of the Estrella Family Creamery, pursuant to a warrant issued by Judge Benjamin H. Settle of the Western District of Washington. Judge Settle issued this warrant at the request of the United States Attorney’s Office, which filed a complaint in the District Court alleging that cheese and other articles of food held at Estrella Family Creamery are "adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act because they have been held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have become contaminated with filth or whereby they may have been rendered injurious to health."
Problems at Estrella began in February when an inspection by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) turned up Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria found in animal feces, in the creamery's production areas and in its finished cheese, according to court records. In March, the WSDA again found bacteria at the facility. The problems centered on a particular cave where soft cheeses are aged, according to co-owner Kelli Estrella, adding that soft cheeses are more susceptible to bacteria growth. The company voluntarily recalled several cheeses, destroyed the cheese in that cave and temporarily shut down production while it improved the facility. On Aug. 2, the FDA conducted an unannounced inspection, taking scores of swabs throughout the operation. Several swabs turned up listeria, although no cheese tested positive at that time. No illnesses have been linked with the cheeses, the state Department of Health said.
Estrella's raw-milk cheeses, made in Montesano, Grays Harbor County, Washington are sold at farmers markets, high-end restaurants and retail stores in several states. It remains unclear if and when the company will resume operations. In the meantime, the FDA has advised consumers to throw away any Estrella cheeses they have in their households.
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