Panera Bread Recalls Cream Cheese Across Texas

AUSTIN, TX — Panera Bread is recalling all of its 2- and 8-ounce cream cheese tubs over Listeria fears at all its U.S. stores, including five in Austin.

The St. Louis-based chain of bakeries posted the notice on its website on Sunday. Officials said cream cheese from a single production day tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

“The safety of our guests and associates is paramount, therefore we are recalling all cream cheese products sold in the U.S. with an active shelf life," Blaine Hurst, Panera's president and CEO, said in a prepared statement. "We have likewise ceased all manufacturing in the associated cream cheese facility.”

The recall includes all varieties of cream cheese products in 2-ounce and 8-ounce tubs with expiration dates on or before April 2:

• Recalled 2-ounce varieties of Panera cream cheese include Plain Cream Cheese, Reduced-Fat Plain Cream Cheese, Reduced-Fat Chive & Onion Cream Cheese, Reduced-Fat Honey Walnut Cream Cheese and Reduced-Fat Wild Blueberry Cream Cheese.
• Recalled 8-ounce varieties of Panera cream cheese include Plain Cream Cheese, Reduced-Fat Plain Cream Cheese, Reduced-Fat Chive & Onion Cream Cheese, Reduced-Fat Honey Walnut Cream Cheese, Reduced-Fat Wild Blueberry Cream Cheese.

“Consumers in possession of these products should discard them immediately,” the Panera recall notice reads in part. Concerned consumers can contact Panera Bread Customer Service at 855-6-PANERA or visit Panera.custhelp.com for a full refund. For any other questions, visit www.panerabread.com/recall.

Since its founding 35 years ago, the chain of bakery-café has grown to more than 2,000 locations throughout the country. The company has six stores in Austin in the following locations:

• Gateway Shopping Centers, 9607 Research Blvd., (512) 795-7308.
• 9901 N Capital of Texas Hwy, (512) 795-7308.
• 4625 W. William Cannon Rd., (512) 358-8600.
• 10900 Lakeline Mall Drive, (512) 996-8300.
• 13000 North I-35 Frontage Road, (512) 832-4110.
• Shops at Mira Vista, 2765 & 2805 Bee Caves Rd., Rollingwood, Texas, (512) 732-0234.

Elsewhere in Texas, there are seven Panera Bread locations in Dallas; 17 in Houston and the surrounding area; and a half-dozen sites in San Antonio.

What is Listeria?

Listeria monocytogenes is a microscopic organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. While healthy adults 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.

>>> Recalled product samples provided by Panera Brea