More Cheeses Recalled Over Listeria Concerns

Old Europe Cheese is expanding its voluntary cheese recall over concerns about possible listeria contamination. Another company has also pulled its cheese products in a related recall.

Old Europe Cheese is adding more cheese products to its earlier recall over concerns that they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, according to the announcement on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website.

The recall expansion specifically affects baked brie cheeses that were distributed nationwide and in Mexico from Aug. 1 to Sept. 28. They had Best By dates that range from Sept. 28 to Dec. 14, 2022.

The recall includes brie cheese products under the brand names Culinary Tour, La Bonne Vie, Lidl, Primo Taglio and Reny Picot. For instance, the affected La Bonne Vie products include the 8-oz Plain Baked Brie and the 11-oz Cranberry Baked Brie.

Important information including the size, other affected varieties, UPC code and photos of the affected products' packaging are available on the FDA website.

Customers who find that they are in possession of a recalled product are advised not to consume it. Instead, they should discard it and be "extra" vigilant about sanitizing all the surfaces that may have come in contact with the product.

A list of the products included in the earlier recall may also be found here. It includes products under the brand names Glenview Farms, Joan of Arc, Black Bear and St. Randeaux.

"The source of potential contamination has been identified and Old Europe Cheese is taking active measures to eliminate it," the company said in its announcement. "The quality and safety of our products is our number one priority. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by this situation. Old Europe Cheese's top priority is the health of our customers."

Those with questions about the recall may contact the company at 269-925-5003 ext. 335.

Swiss American Recall

In a related recall, Swiss American has also voluntarily pulled several cheese products this week. According to the company, it issued the recall after it was informed by the manufacturer, Old Europe Cheese, of the potential contamination.

"This is part of a voluntary broader recall by the manufacturer," the company noted in its announcement.

This related recall affects five brie cheese products. These are the St. Louis Domestic Brie Wedge, 7-oz; the St. Louis Domestic Cut Brie Wedge-6 lb RW, variable weight; the St. Louis Brie, variable weight; the St. Louis Brie pre-cut wedges and the St. Louis CW brie wheel.

The affected UPC Codes can be found on the company's recall announcement on the FDA website.

Listeriosis

The Old Europe Cheese recall is related to an active listeria outbreak that has sickened six people from six states as of Sept. 30.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause Listeriosis, the FDA explained. It can be serious or even fatal in children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. In pregnant women, it may cause complications such as stillbirth, miscarriage and a serious infection in their newborn.