Cheeses Recalled Nationwide After Multiple People Hospitalized With Listeria

Cheeses sold by 16 regional supermarkets nationwide have been recalled by their producer after reports of consumers hospitalized with Listeria.

Old Europe Cheese of Benton Harbor, Michigan, voluntarily recalled its Brie and Camembert cheeses because of potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The recall was triggered by an environmental audit of 120 samples both of the product and of the company’s facilities, according to the recall notice. None of the products showed contamination, but one of the facilities’ samples reportedly tested positive. The strain from that positive case has been linked to six cases of Listeriosis dating between 2017 and 2022. The cases were not previously linked to Old Europe Cheese products, but the company decided to conduct the voluntary recall to avoid risk to their customers.

All Old Europe Cheese Brie and Camembert products are being recalled. The products were distributed between August 1 and September 28 to supermarkets, wholesale and retail stores nationwide.

Retailers who received the recalled cheese products 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 and Whole Foods. The company noted not all of them actually received the products affected by the recall and noted there may be other stores that got the cheese that are not included on the list.

Products being recalled are marked with Best By Dates ranging from September 28 to December 14, The cheese producer notes retailers may have repackaged bulk Old Europe Cheese items into smaller containers before selling them to consumers. Such repackaged products may not include the original labeling and product information.

The recalled cheeses were sold under the brand names: Black Bear, Block & Barrel, Charmant, Cobblestone, Culinary Tour, Fredericks, Fresh Thyme, Glenview Farms, Good & Gather, Heinen’s, Joan of Arc, La Bonne Vie, Lidl, Life in Provence, Market 32, Matrie’d, Metropolitan, Prestige, Primo Taglio, Red Apple Cheese, Reny Picot, St., Randeaux, St. Rocco, Taste of Inspiration and Trader Joe.

Consumers are urged not to consume the recalled Brie and Camembert products. Anyone who purchased the suspect cheese should discard the product. The Food and Drug Administration recommends anyone who purchased or received any recalled products use extra vigilance. Cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces or containers that may have come in contact with these products may reduce the risk of cross contamination. Listeria can survive in refrigerated temperatures and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces, the FDA warns.

Old Europe Cheese has set up a telephone line to answer questions about this recall. The number is 269-925-5003 ext. 335 and representatives are scheduled to be available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m.,  and 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Eastern time.