Citation Filed Against Homemade Cheese Producer

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Contact: Larry Lewis
801-538-7104

Citation Filed Against Homemade Cheese Producer and Distributor 

Salt Lake City -- The Utah Division of Regulatory Services has issued Mr. Fidel Gomez of West Valley City, Utah an Administrative Citation, and fined him $500, for violations of the Utah Dairy Act.  Mr. Gomez is charged with illegally manufacturing and distributing a dairy product (cheese) without a permit.  He was also cited for not labeling his cheese.

     Mr. Gomez came under investigation after numerous cases of Salmonella Newport were linked to queso fresco cheese, some of which was sold at a Salt Lake valley restaurant.   According to the Utah Department of Health, the number of Salmonella Newport laboratory confirmed cases associated with this investigation for 2011 is 42.

     Mr. Gomez was issued a Cease and Desist Order from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food’s Division of Regulatory Services on October 12, 2011.  Investigators discovered that Mr. Gomez did not have proper sanitation equipment in place and was making cheese without a license or permit

     The Division of Regulatory Services urges consumers to NOT purchase foods that are unlabeled and to exercise caution when purchasing food from door-to-door salespeople, and at other locations where food is not ordinarily sold.

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Posted December 1, 2011