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Officials announced a “nationwide, preemptive, voluntary recall” of all two ounce and eight-ounce cream cheese products sold in its bakery-cafes after “samples of one variety of cream cheese from a single production day showed a positive result for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.”
Officials said that tests on cream cheese samples manufactured both before and after the production run in question have all come back negative. No illnesses have been reported. The recall includes all products that have an expiration date on or before April 2 this year. The recall only affects cream cheese products sold in Panera Bread bakery cafes, not any other Panera products.
According to the FSIS, consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.
“Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems.”
“The safety of our guests and associates is paramount, therefore we are recalling all cream cheese products sold in the US with an active shelf life. We have likewise ceased all manufacturing in the associated cream cheese facility,” Blaine Hurst, Panera’s President and CEO said in a statement. “Only one variety of 2-oz cream cheese from a single day yielded the positive result. Our intent is to go above and beyond for our guests. You should expect nothing less from Panera.”
Officials said that consumers in possession of these products should discard them immediately and contact Panera Bread Customer Service by calling 1-855-6-PANERA from , 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM. for a full refund.
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