Cheese Recall Alert: Aldi and Other Products Potentially Contaminated with Listeria
According to Newsweek , Savencia Cheese USA has expanded its voluntary recall of soft cheeses after discovering potential listeria contamination in the processing equipment used to manufacture the products. The recall, which was announced on Tuesday, now includes Glenview Farms Spreadable Brie, marking it as the seventh cheese added to the list.
A spokesperson for Savencia Cheese USA explained to Newsweek that routine testing identified possible contamination of the processing equipment at the company’s facility in Lena, Illinois. Although no contaminated finished products have been found, the company initiated the recall as a precautionary measure to retrieve potentially affected items.
The recall affects a small batch of select soft-ripened cheeses distributed to a limited number of retail partners in 12 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. As of Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported no confirmed cases of illness linked to the recalled cheeses.
Listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria that causes listeriosis, can lead to serious, and sometimes fatal, infections. Individuals most at risk include young children, elderly people, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems. In pregnant women, listeria infection can result in stillbirths, miscarriages, or infections in the newborn. Symptoms of listeriosis in healthy individuals often resemble food poisoning, including high fever, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that listeriosis is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the U.S., responsible for 1,600 illnesses and 260 deaths annually.
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The recall also includes other affected cheeses, such as Aldi Emporium Selection Brie, La Bonne Vie Brie, La Bonne Vie Camembert, Industrial Brie, Market Basket Brie, and Supreme Oval, all with a best-by date of December 24, 2024. Glenview Farms Spreadable Brie, the latest addition, has a best-by date of January 13, 2025.
The recall is being carried out in cooperation with the FDA, but the recall itself was initiated by Savencia Cheese. The FDA has posted the company’s announcement as a public service.
Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled products are advised not to consume them and to return them to the store for a refund. For more information or questions about the recall, consumers can contact Savencia Cheese at (800)-322-2743 or by email at sc.customer.service@savencia.com.
