The United States Food and Drug administration announced that Whole Foods has stripped its shelves of Explorateur French Triple Creme cheese from nine stores, including a pair in New Jersey and Connecticut.
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 ounce packages. All cheese had "sell by" dates from Feb. 15 through April 3. The issue was discovered when Whole Foods Market was notified by a distributor of a positive test result for Listeria monocytogenes.
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.
”There have been no confirmed reports of any adverse reactions due to consumption of the product. Shoppers that may have purchased the products are “urged not to consume them.”
The voluntary recall includes Whole Foods Market locations in:
- Greenwich, Conn. on E. Putnam Avenue;
- Montclair, N.J. on Bloomfield Avenue;
- Madison, N.J. on Main Street;
- River Forest, Ill. on Lake Street;
- Deerfield, Ill. on Waukegan Road;
- Santa Fe, N.M. on Cerillos Road;
- El Paso, Texas on Pitt Street;
- Little Rock, Ark. on Bowman Road and
- Austin, Texas, on Domain Drive.
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., Monday through Friday, or 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday or Sunday.
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