Several brands of soft cheese have been recalled due to possible contamination with the deadly bacteria listeria.
Savencia Cheese USA announced last week that seven of its brie products manufactured at a facility in Pennsylvania may have been exposed to listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that causes the foodborne illness listeria.
According to a release from the FDA, the bacteria was found in the plant’s processing equipment after routine testing, but the finished cheeses did not test positive for the bacteria.
However, the agency is still initiating a recall to “recover the potentially affected product.”
The cheeses had “limited regional distribution” at stores like Aldi and Market Basket, but the FDA has not disclosed any other retailers selling the products.
However, the “few retailers” who sell them have removed the food from their shelves.
Affected states include Indiana, Missouri, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Texas, Iowa, New Jersey, California, Oregon, Colorado, Washington and Illinois.
No illnesses have been reported, but the recall is one of several recent incidents that have raised concerns about the U.S. food supply.
La Bonne Vie Brie (6/8 oz) and La Bonne Vie Camembert (6/8 ounce) were among the cheeses recalled because they may contain listeria
All affected products, including those pictured here, have been removed from shelves
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The seven recalled products are: Aldi Emporium Selection Brie (12/8oz Brie); Upper oval 7oz (6/7 ounce); La Bonne Vie Brie (6/8 oz), La Bonne Vie Camembert (6/8 ounce); 12/8 oz industrial brie; Market Basket Brie (6/8 ounce); and Glenview Farms Spreadable Brie (2/3lb).
The products were manufactured between September 30 and October 15, 2024, and six have a best buy date of December 24, 2024.
The Glenview product has a best buy date of January 13, 2025.
Listeria, also called Listeriosis, is a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
It can be found in moist environments, soil, water, decaying vegetation and animals, and can survive refrigeration and other food preservation measures.
Many foods can harbor the bug, but it is most commonly found in unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses, and ready-to-eat foods such as prepackaged sandwiches.
Cooked shellfish, cured meats and fish, including sushi and pre-cut fruit, also pose a risk.
Most people who eat food contaminated with Listeria do not become seriously ill.
But in some cases it can cause confusion and seizures, miscarriage in pregnant women, and even death.
This can happen when the infection spreads beyond the intestines and affects the central nervous system, which can lead to numbness and seizures.
Supreme Oval 7oz (6/7 ounce) cheese was also recalled. Those who purchased recalled products are encouraged to return them to the place of purchase for a recall
Many foods can contain the listeria, but it is most commonly found in unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses and ready-to-eat foods such as prepackaged sandwiches.
The CDC estimates that 1,600 Americans become infected with listeria each year, and about 260 die.
Consumers who purchased any of the recalled cheeses are encouraged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
The recall comes amid several recent outbreaks of foodborne illness that have left millions of Americans wary of the food supply.
Listeria came into the spotlight earlier this year after the bug was found at a Boar’s Head factory in Virginia.
The disease hospitalized 59 Americans in 19 states and killed 10, eventually forcing the plant to close. About seven million pounds of meat were recalled in late July.
And earlier this month, McDonald’s was hit with an E.coli outbreak that was possibly linked to the chopped onions on its famous Quarter Pounder burgers.
The outbreak has led to 75 illnesses and one death as two Americans battled fatal kidney damage linked to E.coli.