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FDA links Listeria outbreak to cheeses sold at Whole Foods, Safeway and other retailers
The FDA is investigating an outbreak of infections caused by Listeria monocytogenes that are linked to certain Brie and Camembert cheeses that were sold nationwide.
Old Europe Cheese, Inc. of Benton Harbor, MI, today recalled multiple cheese products in relation to the outbreak. A list of those products along with retailers who sold the cheeses is below and at this link. The Food and Drug Administration’s investigation is ongoing to determine whether any other products are involved.
As of today, there are six confirmed patients, five of whom have had to be hospitalized. Out of five patients with interview information available, four — 80 percent — reported eating the Brie or Camembert cheese before becoming ill.
The patients are distributed across the country, living in California, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey and Texas. The most recent to develop symptoms got sick on Aug. 5, but it can take up to 70 days for symptoms to appear after consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
“FDA, with assistance from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, initiated an inspection at the Old Europe Cheese Inc. facility in Michigan, which included sample collection and analysis. Analysis of environmental samples collected at the facility showed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis determined that the Listeria strain found in the facility matches the Listeria strain causing illnesses in this outbreak,” according to the outbreak notice.
The firm has stopped production and distribution of their Brie and Camembert products from the Michigan facility and is working with FDA on corrective actions. Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve recalled products and should throw them away; this includes Best By Dates ranging from September 28, 2022, to December 14, 2022, and all flavors and quantities.
Retailers may have repackaged bulk Old Europe Cheese items into smaller containers and sold this repackaged product to consumers. This repackaged product may not bear the original labeling and product information. If you are unsure where your Brie or Camembert cheese is from, ask your retailer or throw it away.
Consumers and retailers should follow FDA’s safe handling and cleaning advice and use extra vigilance in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces and containers that may have come in contact with these products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination, including retailers who repackaged bulk recalled cheese. Listeria can survive in refrigerated temperatures and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.
Cheese subject to the recall as of this afternoon are:
- Reny Picot
- Black Bear
- Block & Barrel
- Charmant
- Cobblestone
- Culinary Tour
- Fredericks
- Fresh Thyme
- Glenview Farms
- Good & Gather
- Heinen’s
- Joan of Arc
- La Bonne Vie
- Lidl Preferred Selection
- Life in Provence
- Matrie’d
- Market 32
- Metropolitan
- Prestige
- Primo Taglio
- Red Apple Cheese
- St. Randeaux
- Taste of Inspiration
- St. Rocco
- Trader Joe
The products were distributed from August 01, 2022, through September 28, 2022, and were available at supermarkets, wholesale and retail stores nationwide and in Mexico. Retailers include:
- Albertsons
- Safeway
- Meijer
- Harding’s
- Shaw’s
- Price Chopper
- Market Basket
- Raley’s
- Save Mart
- Giant Foods
- Stop & Shop
- Fresh Thyme
- Lidl
- Sprouts
- Athenian Foods
- Whole Foods
This list may not include all retail establishments that have received the recalled product or may include retail establishments that did not actually receive the recalled product.
If you are unsure of what brand your Brie or Camembert cheese is, or if it is an Old Europe Cheese, Inc. product, ask your retailer or throw it away.
MageeNews.com is an online news source serving Simpson and surrounding counties as well as the State of Mississippi.
