Maytag Dairy Farms production remains stalled

If you’re looking forward to the time when Maytag Dairy Farms is again selling the well-known, traditional cheese products it began creating in the 1940s, you’ll probably have to do some more waiting.

An email statement from the Newton company, sent to the Newton Daily News late last week, did not give a timeline for when the dairy will begin production and resume sales. It will likely be the early fall before it can discuss the improvements it is making to ensure safety in its process, the company said.

Production has been at a halt since a February recall for potential Listeria contamination.

“The Maytag family will be happy to meet with you at some point in the future to discuss their vision for the future of Maytag Dairy Farms,” the statement reads. “But we ask that this meeting wait until we have completed the renovations taking place now. Perhaps we can arrange this meeting in the fall.”

Frank Liebl, the director of the Newton Development Corporation, said he knows the dairy has closely guarded its procedures and facilities. Turnover among plant employees seems to be very limited, he said, and the dairy typically doesn’t get involved in recruitment efforts such as the NDC job fairs.

Liebl said he wanted to include the dairy farm as one of the three businesses spotlighted in last October’s annual Salute to Business and Industry Luncheon. He said he hasn’t spoken with Maytag Dairy President and CEO Myrna Ver Ploeg recently, and declined to comment on any of the plant’s activities or future plans until Liebl can speak with Ver Ploeg.

Repeated attempts to reach Ver Ploeg or anyone to speak for the dairy had been unsuccessful until last week, including attempts made when potential Listeria contamination led to an initial Feb. 13 recall of one Maytag Blue Cheese lot. Another recall was announced Feb. 19, and after a third expanded recall was announced on Feb. 26, the plant suspended all production and shipping operations.

A public relations firm was making statements on behalf of the dairy, but that arrangement has since ended.

After a second, larger late-February recall, the company ceased all plant production and shipping of all “Maytag Blue” blue cheese wedges, wheels and crumble products, and hasn’t resumed it. Stores across the country, ranging from Hy-Vee Stores and Whole Foods locations to an upscale restaurant in San Diego, were carrying one or more Maytag products at the time.

Hy-Vee’s Newton location has removed an elaborate display that was devoted to Maytag products.

A statement on the homepage of the company’s website reads “The Maytag Dairy Farm is closed while we continue work upgrading our facilities.”

The farm got its start when Elmer Henry Maytag, son of Maytag Corporation founder F.L. Maytag, formed a dairy farm in 1919 to produce milk for the family and company.

When F.L. Maytag died in 1937, the inheritance of Fred Maytag II and his brother, Robert Maytag, included a dairy and Holstein dairy cattle. They oversaw the creation of a cheese plant and storage caves on the farm.

Maytag took advantage of a process developed by Iowa State University researchers to make blue cheese out of cow’s milk instead of traditional sheep’s milk. The first wheels of cheese to bear the dairy’s name were produced in October 1941.

The Maytag family is still directly involved as owners of the company. Fred “Fritz” Maytag lives in California and is the chairman of a 10-member board of directors.

No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled products.

Customers who have Maytag Dairy Farms products can call 800-247-2458 or 641-791-2010, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with questions.

Listeria is a bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infections can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. More information can be found on the Centers for Disease Control website: www.cdc.gov/listeria.

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com