The Region : Small Cheese Plant Shut

A San Jose firm, primarily in the cheese-importing business, had its small Portuguese cheese-processing operation closed down by state Department of Food and Agriculture inspectors. The agency charged that Ventura Imports had a problem with its pasteurization and refrigeration processes. Roger Ventura, 28, son of the firm’s owner, said the pasteurization problem was caused when some raw milk accidentally “splashed into pasteurized milk” during cheese production. But he said the firm, which produces only 60 pounds of cheese one day a week, broke no refrigeration laws. Separately, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services reported another case of listeriosis affecting a 35-year-old man from West Los Angeles. But a spokesman said it was not immediately known if the case was linked to the county’s cheese-related outbreak of listeriosis.