Cheese Recalled At Montclair Whole Foods Over Listeria Concerns

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling selected packages of Explorateur French Triple Crème cheese from nine stores in six states, including its Montclair location at 701 Bloomfield Avenue. The recall is due to concerns that the cheese may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The recall is being done “out of an abundance of caution,” the FDA stated. No illnesses have been reported to date.

In addition to the Montclair store, Explorateur French Triple Crème packages with scale labels beginning with PLU code 0294317 are also being recalled from the store at 222 Main Street in Madison.

Additional packages of the cheese are being recalled from stores in New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Illinois and Connecticut, the FDA stated. (See a full list of affected stores and product PLU codes here)

According to the FDA:

“The recall includes Explorateur French Triple Crème cheese (under the names Explorateur, Explorateur French Triple Crème Cheese and Explorateur Triple Crème French Cheese) which were both cut and packaged in clear plastic wrap, as well as sold in branded 8 oz. packages. All cheese had ‘sell by’ dates from 02/15/2018 through 04/03/2018. The issue was discovered when Whole Foods Market was notified by a distributor of a positive test result for Listeria monocytogenes.”

The FDA said that Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, pregnant women 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, stillbirths and fetal infection among pregnant women,” the FDA stated.

Customers who purchased these products at Whole Foods Market can bring a valid receipt into stores for a full refund. Consumers with additional questions can call 1-844- 936-8255 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday, or 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. CST Saturday through Sunday.

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