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Sunday, February 12, 2017

Sargento, Mijer and Sara Lee Recall Colby Cheese Products After Supplier Discovers Listeria Contamination Issue

Sargento, Meijer and Sara Lee are recalling their branded Colby cheese products after their Indiana-based supplier of  Colby, Deutsch Kase Haus, notified them of a potential Listeria contamination issue. There have not been any reported illnesses.

The recall began when the Tennessee Department of Agriculture sampled one of brands where the source was from Deutsch Kase Haus, but went through a middleman packaging operation,  MDS Food manufacturing facility in Tennessee.  It will be interesting to see if this contamination originated at teh MDS facility.  At the least, this MDS facility would need to worry about the fact that cross contamination could be an issue in that facility.  And while they recalled the Colby cheese product produced on the same line, to what degree do they need to worry about other cheese packed in that facility.

In general, the more post-process handling and processing that occurs,such as wtih slicing and packaging, the more opportunity there is for Listeria contamination.

Indianapolis Star

http://www.indystar.com/story/money/2017/02/10/sargento-recalls-cheese-indiana-based-supplier/97769292/
Sargento, Meijer recall cheese from Indiana-based manufacturer
Holly V. Hays , holly.hays@indystar.com Published 8:35 p.m. ET Feb. 10, 2017 | Updated 6:57 a.m. ET Feb. 11, 2017

Meijer wants to open a new supercenter at 56th Street and Keystone Avenue in the Glendale area of Indianapolis. This store opened in Plainfield in May. (Photo: Doug McSchooler/For The Star )Buy

Wisconsin-based cheese distributor Sargento Foods Inc. and Meijer have issued recalls for potentially contaminated cheese supplied by an Indiana company.

Middlebury-based Deutsch Kase Haus LLC notified the company that the Longhorn Colby cheese they supplied must be recalled due to possible contamination of listeria monocytogenes, according to a release from the company.

Affected products include Sargento Ultra Thin Sliced Longhorn Colby with sell-by dates of April 12, 2017, and May 10, 2017, and Sargento Chef Blends Shredded Nacho & Taco Cheese with sell-by dates of June 14, 2017, and July 12, 2017.

Products packaged on the same line as the affected products are also included in the recall out of "an abundance of caution," according to the release.

Those products are:
Sargento Sliced Colby-Jack Cheese with a sell-by date of June 11, 2017.
Sargento Sliced Pepper Jack Cheese with sell-by dates of June 12, 2017; July 9, 2017; and July 10, 2017.
Sargento Chef Blends Shredded Taco Cheese with sell-by dates of June 14, 2016, and June 28, 2017.
Sargento Off the Block Shredded Fine Cut Colby-Jack Cheese with a sell-by date of July 5, 2017.
Sargento Off the Block Shredded Fine Cut Cheddar Jack Cheese with a sell-by date of July 5, 2017.

"Food safety is our number one priority at Sargento," the company said in a statement. "We are vigilantly monitoring this issue to ensure the situation will be resolved in a timely manner. Our unwavering commitment to safety is at the core of everything we do at Sargento. We are in full cooperation with the federal Food and Drug Administration to rigorously investigate and resolve this issue."

For more information about the recall and to find out if a product you have purchased is affected, visit Sargento's website.

Meijer also announced Friday that some of the cheeses distributed in its stores are being recalled due to possible contamination from the Indiana site, according to a post on the store's website.

Affected products include Meijer Mini Horn Colby Jack, UPC number 2-15927-00000-6 and Meijer Colby Mini Horn, UPC number 2-15938-00000-2.

Shoppers who have purchased these products should avoid consuming them and return the product to their nearest Meijer store for a full refund, according to the store's website.

For more information about the Meijer recall, visit the store's website.

Call IndyStar reporter Holly Hays at (317) 444-6156. Follow her on Twitter: @hollyvhays.

FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm541224.htm
Meijer Recalls Meijer Brand Colby and Colby Jack Deli Cheeses Because of Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release

February 10, 2017

Contact
Consumers (800) 543-3704 MediaFrank Guglielmi frank.guglielmi@meijer.com
616-791-3814

Announcement
Meijer is announcing a recall of its Meijer Brand Colby Cheese and Colby Jack Cheese sold exclusively through its deli counters due to a potential contamination 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, a Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The Meijer Brand Colby Cheese and Colby Jack Cheese were sold in Meijer stores from Nov. 10, 2016 to Feb. 9, 2017. There have been no known illnesses reported to Meijer from the product affected by this recall.

Meijer received notice of a possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination from MDS Foods, a Meijer supplier that sources the Meijer branded cheeses from Deutsch Kase Haus, a cheese manufacturer based in Middlebury, Indiana. MDS Foods informed Meijer that evidence of potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination had been identified by the manufacturer.

The recalled product will be in plastic deli packaging with printed labels that have the UPCs 215927xxxxxx or 215938xxxxxx – the last 6 digits will vary, and are determined by weight since the product was purchased at the deli counter.

Customers should stop using the product and either dispose of it or return it to the customer service desk at any Meijer store for a full refund. For additional information, please contact Meijer at (800) 543-3704, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


Sara Lee Website
http://saraleedeli.com/voluntary-recall/sara-lee-deli-voluntarily-recalls-cheese-in-six-states/
Sara Lee® Deli Voluntarily Recalls Cheese in Six States

February 11, 2017 – Sara Lee® Deli is voluntarily recalling approximately 734 cases of Sara Lee® Sliced Monterey Jack Cheese with Jalapeno Peppers and Sara Lee® Sliced Colby Jack Cheese. The products were distributed to food retailers in Alabama, California, Louisiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas.

The products are being recalled out of an abundance of caution because they were made by an outside supplier on the same day and with the same equipment as Deutsch Kase Haus, LLC-supplied cheese, which is being recalled due to potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes.

Sara Lee Deli has received no reports of illnesses associated with the affected product, which was ordered and shipped to retail customers as Sara Lee® Sliced Monterey Jack Cheese with Jalapeno Peppers, Item number 40205, Product Lot #A319349610, USE BY JUN-12-17 and Sara Lee® Sliced Colby Jack Cheese, Item Number 40208, Product Lot #A319348610, USE BY JUN-11-17. No other Sara Lee branded products are affected by this voluntary recall.

Consumers who have purchased this product are instructed to take it back to the store for a credit.

Consumers with questions may call Sara Lee Consumer Relations department at 888-747-7611. News media and health department


Tennessee Department of Agriculture
https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/news/48528
Listeria Contamination Prompts Cheese Recall
Thursday, February 09, 2017 | 4:44pm

NASHVILLE — Routine testing by the Consumer and Industry Services Division of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture has discovered Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of Amish Classic Colby deli horn cheese.

The manufacturer, Deutsch Kase Haus, LLC, is instructing all wholesalers and retailers to discontinue selling their existing stock of Amish Classic Colby deli horns distributed by MDS Foods under the Amish Classic label with item number 55209 and sold as sliced deli cheese. They are also recalling lot numbers 110316V02, 110316V03 and 110316V04.

The company is also removing packaged Amish Classic Colby Cheese with item numbers 55241 and 55245 which were cut from the suspect 55209 product and wrapped at the MDS Foods manufacturing facility located in Tullahoma, Tenn.

Meijer’s Colby-jack deli horn lot number 110316V08 and Meijer’s Colby deli horn lot numbers 110316V08 are also part of the recall.

On January 30, TDA took a sample of the Amish Classic Colby from a store in Trenton, Tenn. Tests conducted in the state lab confirmed the food was contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The Food and Drug Administration is investigating the source and extent of the contamination and determining how many retailers received these batches of cheese. TDA is urging anyone who purchased any of the aforementioned items not to consume them.

No illnesses have been reported in Tennessee. The investigation is ongoing.

Listeria monocytogenes is unlike many other germs because it can grow in a cold environment. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women and may be fatal for individuals with weakened immune systems. Cooking and pasteurization are two methods to eliminate the bacteria from food.

The Consumer and Industry Services Division of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture sets high standards for food safety. Those standards are enforced through regular and thorough inspections and product testing.

- See more at: https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/news/48528#sthash.cdgxRQrz.dpuf

FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm541377.htm
MDS Foods Inc. - Food Safety Press Release
For Immediate Release
February 11, 2017

Contact
Consumers (330) 879-9780 extension 105
Announcement
View Product Photos

MDS Foods Inc., of Massillon, OH is recalling multiple products some of which were found to be contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes and other products which may have the potential to be contaminated with the bacteria.

Deutsch Kase Haus, LLC of Middlebury, Indiana, supplied MDS Foods with Colby and Colby Jack minihorn cheeses that have been found to be contaminated with the pathogenic 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. At the time of this release, no illnesses have been reported.

Customers who have purchased any of the cheese products listed below from the affected sell by dates or any unreadable date codes are urged not to consume it and to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact MDS Foods Customer Service: (330) 879-9780 extension 105 Monday through Friday, 8:00AM to 5:00PM, (EST).

MDS Foods, Inc. is committed to food safety and providing our customers with the highest quality products. MDS Foods, Inc. has also recalled potentially affected products that were packaged on the same production lines in our Tullahoma, TN. Facility as the affected product.

MDS Foods, Inc. is working diligently with the FDA and TN Department Agriculture as well as closely monitoring the information from our affected cheese supplier. We will continue to posts updates to this recall if more information becomes available.

Affected and potentially affected products were distributed by MDS Foods Inc. under multiple brand labels and distributed nationwide. Please refer to the list below.

- Online -

https://www.mdsfoods.com/single-post/021117Recall

Cheese products being recalled due to found contamination from cheese supplier

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