Whole Foods Market Recalls Blue Cheese Over Possible Listeria Contamination
DETROIT (WWJ) - If you shop at Whole Foods Market, you'll want to check your refrigerator.
Texas-based Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling Maytag Raw Milk Blue Cheese products that were sold in its stores nationwide because the cheese could possibly be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Listeria monocytogenes is an organism 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 monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
No illnesses have been reported in connection with this recall to date.
The recalled cheese was sold cut and packaged in clear plastic wrap with scale labels in various weights reading "Maytag Blue Raw Milk," "Maytag Blue" or "Maytag Iowa Blue Cheese" and with PLU numbers beginning with 293308 and "sell-by" dates of 1/20/16 and 3/21/16. The product was sold from cheese cases in various Whole Foods Market stores nationwide. Out of an abundance of caution, Whole Foods Market is recalling the products from all of its stores.
The potential for contamination was discovered after testing by the State of Iowa revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in two lots of product. Maytag Dairy Farms has voluntarily suspended production and distribution while the company collaborates with FDA and the State of Iowa to determine the cause of the problem.
Customers who have purchased this product should discard it, and may bring their receipt into the store for a full refund. For more information call 512-477-5566, extension 20060.