A New Jersey cheese manufacturer should be put out of business, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says.

FDA has filed an action in federal court against Passaic, NJ-based Quesos Mi Pueblito, LLC alleging the cheese business has a history of operating under insanitary conditions and producing cheese contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

On behalf of FDA, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint for permanent injunction against Quesos Mi Pueblito and two of its officers, Felix Sanchez and Jesus Galvez.

The complaint alleges that recent inspections by the FDA and the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services found Listeria-contaminated cheese and insanitary conditions at the Passaic company.

The company has frequently had to recall its cheeses for Listeria contamination.  Most recently, it recalled virtually all its production from Feb. 2 to Aug. 27, 2009.

If entered by the court, the injunction would stop the company and its officers from manufacturing and distributing food until they can bring their operations into full compliance with FDA food safety regulations and produce cheese that does not test positive for the presence of Listeria.

The complaint for permanent injunction was filed in the U.S. District Court – District of New Jersey.

“FDA’s work with federal and state partners to root out or remedy food manufacturers not compliant with food safety laws ensures safer foods get to our dinner tables,” said Michael Chappell, the FDA’s acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs.

Quesos Mi Pueblito currently manufactures and distributes a variety of soft, semi-soft, and hard Mexican cheeses in grocery stores and supermarkets in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Florida, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Among Quesos Mi Pueblito’s products are queso oaxaca, queso fresco, queso requeson and queso cotija molido.