The problem was discovered when Whole Foods was contacted by a distributor who had determined that the cheese was tainted with listeria, according to an FDA Recall Notice issued Monday.
Affected products include Whole Foods cheese sold under the following names:
- Explorateur
- Explorateur French Triple Crème Cheese
- Explorateur Triple Crème French Cheese
The recalled cheese was sold at Whole Foods grocery stores in New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Illinois, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Each variation is cut and packaged in clear plastic wrap or sold in 8-ounce portions, FDA said. Affected products have “sell by” dates of 2/15/2018 thru 4/3/2018. A complete list of locations and PLU numbers can be found on the FDA website.
Signs and symptoms of listeria food poisoning (listeriosis) include:
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
If the infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms may include:
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Convulsions
- Death
An estimated 1,600 people in the U.S. get listeriosis each year, and about 260 people die from the illness, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
If you purchased any cheese affected by this recall, you should not eat it, and either discard it immediately or return it to the point of purchase for a refund.
To date, no listeria infections or other injuries have been associated with the recall, FDA said.
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Source: NBC Chicago