Saputo pulls gouda from stores in latest Listeria recall

Multi-national dairy giant Saputo Inc. is the latest company to issue a nationwide recall of its cheese products because state inspectors found Listeria monocytogenes in another brand of cheese made by a Saputo supplier.

Montreal-based Saputo is recalling specialty gouda cheese packaged under two brands — Great Midwest and Dutchmark. The Great Midwest branded cheese was produced by Deutsch Käse Haus LLC.

Other brands recalled in recent days include Sargento, Sara Lee, Meijer and Amish Classics. Deutsch Käse Haus LLC manufacturer cheese for all of companies under a variety of brands.

The recalls began Feb. 9 when the Tennessee Department of Agriculture posted an consumer alert.

“On Jan. 30, TDA (Tennessee Department of Agriculture) took a sample of the Amish Classic Colby from a store in Trenton, TN,” according to the consumer alert.

“Tests conducted in the state lab confirmed the food was contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The Food and Drug Administration is investigating the source and extent of the contamination and determining how many retailers received these batches of cheese.”

As of Thursday evening, the FDA had not released any information about the investigation.

“Saputo Inc. is voluntarily recalling certain gouda cheese products in the United States after having been notified by Deutsch Kase Haus LLC of Middlebury, IN, that some specialty gouda cheese products that it supplied to Saputo’s Green Bay, WI, facility may have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes,” according to the recall notice posted on the Food and Drug Administration’s website.

“As a precautionary measure, Saputo is also recalling the Dutchmark Smoked Gouda cheeses listed in the table below, which were packaged on the same line. Consumers should not consume the recalled products.”

Saputo sold the Great Midwest and Dutchmark branded cheeses to retailers nationwide. Retailers primarily sold the Great Midwest “Applewood Smoked Gouda” primarily at deli counters and deli cases. The three specific cheeses recalled by Saputo can be identified by the label information and codes in the table above.

“Saputo is working with impacted customers to ensure that the recalled products are removed from the marketplace,” according to the recall notice.

“Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled products identified in the table above with the specified sell by date are urged to dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. No other Saputo products are affected by this recall.”

Although no illnesses had been reported in connection with the recalled Great Midwest or Dutchman cheeses as of Thursday when the recall was posted, it can take up to 70 days for symptoms of Listeria infection to develop after exposure to the bacteria.

Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctors about the possible exposure so that the appropriate diagnostic tests can be conducted.

People who have eaten the recalled cheese should monitor themselves for symptoms of infection for 70 days. Symptoms can include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeriosis can be very serious in children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems. It can result in stillbirths and deaths in severe cases.

Editor’s note: For additional information on the related recalls, please see:

• “String of cheese recalls continues, as does Listeria probe”
• “Guggisberg Cheese recalls a dozen products because of Listeria”
• “Sara Lee recalls cheese; 3rd-party plant has history of Listeria”
• “Taylor Farms recalls Signature, HEB salads; Listeria in cheese”
• “UPDATED: Listeria in cheese; recalls by Sargento, Meijer, others”

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from Food Recalls – Food Safety News http://ift.tt/2m0rdCb