Whole Foods announced on Wednesday that it is removing its Papillon Organic Roquefort cheese in all of its stores following listeria fears.
The decision was made after the US Food and Drug Administration found the bacteria in a whole, uncut wheel of cheese. The cheese is packaged in clear plastic wrap and sold by weight. According to Whole Foods, all sell-by dates are affected.
Listeria is a bacteria that is dangerous for everyone but can be especially dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, and those with weakened immune systems, according to the CDC.
Whole Foods’ full release is below.
AUSTIN, TX (October 7, 2015) – Whole Foods Market is recalling cheese sold in all stores nationwide that came from its supplier because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. Consumers should seek immediate medical care if they develop these symptoms.
The recalled cheese was cut and packaged in clear plastic wrap and sold with Whole Foods Market scale labels. Whole Foods Market decided to recall the cheese after routine sampling conducted by the FDA found Listeria Monocytogenes in a whole, uncut wheel of the cheese. The Papillion Organic Roquefort cheese product can be identified by the scale label that begins with PLU 029536. All sell by dates are affected.
No illnesses or infections have been reported to date. Signage is posted on retail store shelves to notify customers of this recall, and all affected product has been removed from shelves.
Consumers who have purchased this product from Whole Foods Market stores may bring their receipt to the store for a full refund. Consumers with questions should contact their local store or call 512-477-5566 ext. 20060 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST.
(Copyright (c) 2015 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)