Whole Foods Market is recalling ricotta salata cheese from 21 states and Washington, D.C., over potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that causes severe food poisoning illness.
Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one developed symptoms of food poisoning after eating Whole Foods cheese, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit and our lawyers can help.
Update: Whole Foods Expands Cheese Recall Amid Listeria Outbreak
March 13, 2017 – In response to Vulto Creamery’s recall of raw milk cheeses, Whole Foods Market is expanding its own recall to include Andes, Hamden and Walton Umber cheeses sold in 8 stores in Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. As of Friday, Vulto Creamery is reporting the particular strain of Listeria monocytogenes is responsible for 6 illnesses and 2 deaths.
The recall includes Vulto Creamery Ouleout and Miranda soft wash-rind raw milk cheeses which were cut and packaged in clear plastic wrap with scale labels beginning with PLU codes 0200305 and 0200306 and “sell by” dates from 12/27/2016 to 03/28/2017.
What’s the problem?
The Whole Foods Salata Frescolina brand cheese affected by this recall was cut into wedges, packaged in clear plastic wrap, and sold with a Whole Foods Market scale label using PLU 293427. All cheese products with ‘sell by’ dates through Oct. 2 are included in this recall.
Whole Foods Market stores in the following states are affected by this recall: AL; AR; CA; CO; FL; GA; KS; KY; MD; NC; NJ; NM; NY; OH; OR; PA; SC; TN; UT; VA; WA, and Washington, D.C.
Notification of this recall has been posted in Whole Foods Market stores. Consumers who have purchased Salata Frescolina brand cheese affected by this recall should discard it immediately or return it to the Whole Foods location where they purchased it for a full refund. Anyone concerned about a listeria food poisoning illness should contact their doctor right away.
Tips to Avoid Listeria Food Poisoning
To avoid contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, follow these simple steps:
- wash hands with warm, soapy water before and after handling raw meat and poultry;
- wash all kitchen utensils that come into contact with raw food products with hot, soapy water;
- clean all kitchen spills immediately;
- keep raw meats away from food that will not be cooked;
- use precooked or ready-to-eat food as soon as possible;
- use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry, egg products and cooked foods;
- do not eat the following products: hot dogs, luncheon or deli meats (unless they are heated to steaming hot); refrigerated pâté, meat spreads from a meat counter or smoked seafood found in the refrigerated section of the store; raw (unpasteurized) milk and foods containing raw milk; pre-made ham salad, chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad or seafood salad; soft cheeses such as Feta, queso blanco, queso fresco, Brie, Camembert cheeses, blue-veined cheeses and Panela unless it is labeled as made with pasteurized milk.
It is important to note that Listeria monocytogenes can grow in the refrigerator. Your refrigerator should be set at 40 degrees or lower and your freezer should be zero degrees or lower. Use an appliance thermometer to check the temperature of your refrigerator.
Whole Foods Recalls Cheeses from 9 Stores
March 8, 2017 – Whole Foods Market is recalling all of Vulto Creamery’s soft, wash-rind raw milk cheeses in 9 stores across 4 states over potential contamination with listeria, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Vulto Creamery issued the recall for its products after the FDA found lots with positive cultures of Listeria.
Whole Foods Cheese Recall 10/7/15: Whole Foods Market has issued yet another recall for its cheeses after routine testing by the FDA revealed the presence of listeria in the grocer’s Papillion Organic Roquefort Cheese. Affected products were cut and packaged in clear plastic wrap and sold with Whole Foods Market scale labels that begin with PLU 029536. Click here to learn more.
Whole Foods Salmon Recall 1/25/13: Whole Foods is now recalling Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon sold at locations around the country because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Products affected by this recall were distributed to Whole Foods Markets in the following states: Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, and Utah. Click here to learn more.
Do I have a Whole Foods Cheese Recall Lawsuit?
The Food Poisoning Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Whole Foods cheese recall lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new listeria infection cases in all 50 states.
Free Confidential Case Evaluation: Again, if you got a listeria infection after eating Whole Foods cheese, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit and we can help.