RECALL UPDATE : Aldi and Other Soft Cheeses Recalled Over Potential Listeria Contamination

According to Newsweek , A new product has been added to a growing recall of soft cheeses after Savencia Cheese USA discovered potential contamination with listeria monocytogenes in the processing equipment used to manufacture the cheese. The recall now includes Glenview Farms Spreadable Brie, marking the seventh cheese affected by the issue.

According to a spokesperson from Savencia Cheese USA, routine testing identified that equipment at the company’s Lena, Illinois facility could have been contaminated with listeria. Although finished product testing has not revealed any contamination, the company has voluntarily expanded the recall as a precautionary measure to retrieve potentially affected products.

The recall impacts a small number of soft-ripened cheeses distributed to a limited group of retail partners across 12 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.

As of now, no illnesses have been reported in connection with these products, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, listeria is a serious infection, particularly dangerous for vulnerable populations such as young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems. In pregnant women, listeria can cause severe outcomes such as stillbirths, miscarriages, or infections in the newborn.

Listeriosis, the condition caused by listeria, typically manifests as short-term symptoms of food poisoning, including high fever, headache, muscle stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illnesses in the U.S., responsible for approximately 1,600 infections and 260 deaths annually.

Other cheeses previously included in the recall are 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 product to join the recall, has a best-by date of January 13, 2025.

Consumers who have purchased any of these recalled cheeses are urged to dispose of them immediately and seek medical advice if they experience symptoms of listeriosis.