Feds: NJ Company Bought Tainted Milk For Ricotta Cheese

Federal authorities say a New Jersey cheese maker used tainted milk to make ricotta cheese.

Federal prosecutors say the raw milk from Pennsylvania had been condemned because of high levels of antibiotics.

Lebanon Cheese Co. of Lebanon, N.J., and its president were charged Monday with a misdemeanor shipping charge. A defense lawyer did not immediately return a message.

Authorities say Lebanon Cheese bought the discounted milk from D.A. Landis Trucking Inc. of Lancaster, although dairy farmers pledged to dispose of it.

A defense lawyer for the cheese company and its president, Joseph Lotito, 42, of Annandale, N.J., did not immediately return a message.

Landis Trucking and President Dean Landis are set to plead guilty Friday to conspiracy to falsify driver log books.

Authorities say they know of no resulting illnesses.