3 January 2008 - The source of a listeria outbreak which caused two people to die and two more to fall ill has been identified, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) has announced in a press release.
Four cases of listeriosis, which occurred in June, October and November 2007, were traced back last week to Whittier Farms Dairy. The West Sutton, Massachusetts-based company operates a dairy farm and a dairy processing plant as well as retail outlets.
Whittier Farms is cooperating with the state authorities and has voluntarily suspended its operations and distribution until an investigation by the MDPH identifies the origin of the contamination and the fault is corrected.
The MDPH has urged the public to discard any Whittier Farms Dairy milk products in their possession. There have been no new confirmed cases of listeriosis linked to this outbreak.