The FDA has updated the Whole Foods recall of Crave Brothers cheese for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination with the states where the cheese was sold, as well as names, picture of the product label, and PLU numbers. The Crave Brothers cheese brand is linked to a multi state Listeria outbreak that has sickened at least five people, killed one person in Minnesota, and caused a miscarriage.
The cheese was cut and packaged in Whole Food stores, wrapped in clear plastic wrap, and sold with Whole Foods Market scale labels. If you purchased this cheese, discard it and bring in the receipt for a refund. You should also clean your refrigerator and kitchen with a mild bleach solution because cross-contamination with Listeria bacteria is a real possibility. The bacteria can grow at refrigerator temperatures.
The cheese sold in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas was labeled as Les Frères with PLU number 299682. The cheese sold in Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, New Mexico, and Utah was sold as Crave Brothers Les Frères and had PLU number 299682. The Whole Foods cheese sold in Florida was labeled as Les Frères Wash Rind Product of USA and had PLU number 294473.
In Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey (stores in Marlton and Princeton only), Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, and Washington D.C. the cheese was sold as Crave Bros Les Frères with PLU number 294473. In Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin it was sold as Crave Brothers Les Frères Cheese by Pound with PLU number 294473. In Oregon and Washington it was sold as Les Frères Crave Brothers with PLU number 294473. And in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee it was labeled as Les Frères Crave Brothers PO-RK with PLU number 294473.
If you ate this cheese, you should monitor yourself for the symptoms of a Listeria infection for the next 70 days, since it can take that long after exposure to develop the illness. Symptoms can appear as early as 3 days after exposure. If you do develop a fever, headache, stiff neck, loss of balance, flu-like symptoms, upset stomach, or diarrhea, see your doctor immediately as listeriosis can be a serious disease. Tell him you ate the recalled cheese.
For questions and more information, call Whole Foods at 512-477-5566 ext. 20060 Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm CT. Or you can call Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese Company at 920-478-4887 Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm CT.
