Cheese recall affects Meijer, Sargento brands
Several brands of cheese sold in Illinois and six other states are being recalled after inspectors at a manufacturing plant discovered bacterial contamination that could cause serious illness.
Meijer stores that carry a variety of Sargento, Amish Classics and store-brand cheeses have pulled the items off shelves and are notifying customers who might have purchased the cheeses between Nov. 10, 2016, and Feb. 9. Anyone who purchased these items can return them to the store for a full refund.
The cheeses could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can cause serious and even fatal infections in children, the elderly or anyone with frail immune systems. According to the FDA, healthy individuals could suffer short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. In pregnant women, a Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths. No illnesses have been reported as a result of the potential contamination.
Additionally, a number of Guggisberg brand cheeses sold at delis throughout the Midwest, including Illinois, have also been recalled.
The cheeses were manufactured by Indiana-based Deutsch Kase Haus and packaged for sale under a variety of brands.