Whole Foods announced on Wednesday a nationwide recall of all cut, wrapped and weighed Papillon Organic Roquefort cheese because of possible Listeria contamination, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The cheese products were sold in clear plastic wrap under the label Whole Foods Market and have scale labels beginning with PLU 029536. All "sell by" dates for the cheeses are affected. People who bought the recalled products can bring their receipts to the store to get a full refund.
The nationwide recall was announced after the FDA conducted a routine sampling of the product and found an uncut cheese positive for Listeria.
Listeria bacteria can cause serious infections particularly in the elderly, young children and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms of the infection can range from severe headaches, muscle pain, nausea, high fever and diarrhea. Pregnant women exposed to the infection are at risk of miscarriage and stillbirth, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"No illnesses or infections have been reported to date," Whole Foods said on its website. "Signage is posted on retail store shelves to notify customers of this recall, and all affected product has been removed from shelves."
Last month, Karoun Dairies also issued a nationwide voluntary recall of their cheese products after 24 cases of Listeria infection that resulted in illnesses, one death and one fetal death were linked to the consumption of soft cheeses from the manufacturer. Those affected by the outbreak were from nine different states: New York, Washington, California, Michigan, Colorado, Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee and Massachusetts.
