Cheese Recalled Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

A Michigan cheesemaker is voluntarily recalling 14,238 pounds of cheese sold under the Kuster’s Dairy Foods, Fata’s Bet and Nor-Tech Dairy labels because it may be contaminated with the organism Listeria monocytogenes. The affected products were distributed to stores in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Kuster’s Inc. said in a news release the products are being recalled “out of an abundance of caution” after the manufacturer of a possible contamination. Kuster’s said it has stopped distribution of the product, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the company are continuing an investigation into how the possible contamination may have occurred.

No one has been sickened, the company said.

The shredded cheese was sold in 5-pound plastic bags under the following labels:

• Kuster's Dairy Foods Three Blend (pack date 10/05/16)
• Fata's Best Four Blend Feather Shred (lot date 27916)
• Fata's Best Mozzarella Muenster Provolone Feather Shred (lot date 27916)
• Fata's Best Monterey Jack Feather Shred (lot date 27916)
• Fata's Best PepperJack Feather Shred (Lot date 27816)
• Nor-Tech Dairy Mozz/Muenster/Prov Feather Shred (best used by: 12-05-2016)
• Nor-Tech Dairy Sharp White Cheddar Feather Shred (packed on 10.04.2016)

The cubed cheese was packaged under the following label:

• Nor-Tech Dairy PepperJack 3/4" Cubed (packed on 10/04/2016).

The sliced cheese was packaged under the following label:

• Kuster's Dairy Foods Sliced Colby Jack

Consumers who have purchased any of these products are urged not to eat the product and to return it to Kuster's Inc. for a full refund. Customers with questions may contact the company at (517) 368-5174 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST.

Listeria monocytogenes 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. Infections can result in miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Photo by Roxanne Ready via Flickr Commons