Whole Foods Market recalls Crave Brothers Les Frères cheese
In response to the recall issued by Waterloo, Wisconsin cheese producer, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese Company, Austin, TX chain, Whole Foods Market, has issued a recall of Crave Brothers Les Frères cheese due to the risk of Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outbreak notice Friday,a total of five persons infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from four states, linked to the Crave Brothers soft cheeses.
The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Minnesota (2), and Ohio (1).
All five ill persons were hospitalized. One death was reported in Minnesota. One illness in a pregnant woman resulted in a miscarriage.
The recalled Crave Brothers Les Frères cheese was cut and packaged in clear plastic wrap and sold with Whole Foods Market scale labels. Below is a list of how the cheese was labeled, including PLU code, according to the state in which it was sold.
State | Labeled as | PLU |
---|---|---|
Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas | Les Frères | 299682 |
Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, New Mexico, Utah | Crave Brothers Les Frères | 299682 |
Florida | Les Frères Wash Rind Product of USA | 294473 |
Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey (stores in Marlton and Princeton only), Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Washington D.C. | Crave Bros Les Frères | 294473 |
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Wisconsin | Crave Brothers Les Frères Cheese by Pound | 294473 |
Oregon, Washington | Les Frères Crave Brothers | 294473 |
Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee | Les Frères Crave Brothers PO-RK | 294473 |
Listeria monocytogenes is bacteria that is normally found in the environment and has been found in animals, birds and vegetation. It can be found in raw foods and processed foods that get contaminated after processing. Some of the most common foods that are associated with listeriosis are raw milk, soft cheeses, vegetables, and many ready to eat meats like hot dogs, deli meats and pâtés.
Those at greatest risk of serious listeria infection include pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and adults with weakened immune systems (AIDS patients have a significantly high chance, up to 300 times, of contracting the disease).
Most healthy persons show no symptoms of this disease. Initial symptoms of food borne listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, fatigue and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Primarily in high risk groups but occasionally in healthy adults, the infection can spread to the blood and central nervous system where it can cause sepsis and meningitis.
Due to a naturally depressed immune system, pregnant women are about 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to contract this disease. Though many women may only experience mild flu-likesymptoms, infections during pregnancy can have devastating consequences to the fetus which include stillbirth or miscarriage, premature delivery and serious infections in the newborn.
What things can you do to prevent this infection? The US CDC offers recommendations to the general public and high risk groups:
• Thoroughly cook raw food from animal sources, such as beef, pork, or poultry.
• Wash raw vegetables thoroughly before eating.
• Keep uncooked meats separate from vegetables and from cooked foods and ready-to-eat foods.
• Avoid unpasteurized (raw) milk or foods made from unpasteurized milk.
• Wash hands, knives, and cutting boards after handling uncooked foods.
• Consume perishable and ready-to-eat foods as soon as possible
Recommendations for persons at high risk, such as pregnant women and persons with weakened immunesystems, in addition to the recommendations listed above:
• Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, or deli meats, unless they are reheated until steaming hot.
• Avoid getting fluid from hot dog packages on other foods, utensils, and food preparation surfaces, and wash hands after handling hot dogs, luncheon meats, and deli meats.
• Do not eat soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, and Camembert, blue-veined cheeses, or Mexican-style cheeses such as queso blanco, queso fresco, and Panela, unless they have labels that clearly state they are made from pastuerized milk.
• Do not eat refrigerated pâtés or meat spreads. Canned or shelf-stable pâtés and meat spreads may be eaten.
• Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood, unless it is contained in a cooked dish, such as a casserole. Refrigerated smoked seafood, such as salmon, trout, whitefish, cod, tuna or mackerel, is most often labeled as “nova-style,” “lox,” “kippered,” “smoked,” or “jerky.” The fish is found in the refrigeratorsection or sold at deli counters of grocery stores and delicatessens. Canned or shelf-stable smoked seafood may be eaten.
This very hardy bacterium can survive and even grow at refrigeration temperature. Because of this factor, Listeria presents challenges for us all.
Customers who have purchased this product from Whole Foods Market should discard it, and may bring in their receipt for a full refund. Questions about this can be directed to 512-477-5566 ext. 20060, Monday-Friday from 8 am to 5 pm CDT. Consumers with questions about Crave Brothers cheese may contact the company directly: Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese Company at 920-478-4887, Monday-Friday from 8 am to 5 pm CDT.
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[…] Whole Foods Market recalls Crave Brothers Les Frères cheeseThe Global DispatchIn response to the recall issued by Waterloo, Wisconsin cheese producer, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese Company, Austin, TX chain, Whole Foods Market, has issued a recall of Crave Brothers Les Frères cheese due to the risk of Listeria monocytogenes …Listeria outbreak linked to cheese; 1 dead, 4 sickenedCNNWhole Foods Recalls Cheese Linked to OutbreakABC NewsWhole Foods recalls cheese due to listeria outbreakFox Newsabc7.com -Forbesall 189 news articles » […]
[…] […]
[…] Whole Foods Market recalls Crave Brothers Les Frères cheeseThe Global DispatchIn response to the recall issued by Waterloo, Wisconsin cheese producer, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese Company, Austin, TX chain, Whole Foods Market, has issued a recall of Crave Brothers Les Frères cheese due to the risk of Listeria monocytogenes …Whole Foods recalls cheese over Listeria fearsabc7.comListeria outbreak linked to cheese; 1 dead, 4 sickenedCNNWhole Foods Recalls Cheese Linked to OutbreakABC NewsFox News -Forbesall 190 news articles …read more […]