French cheesemaker, Trois Comtois of Poligny, France, is recalling all Trois Comtois brand Morbier cheese from lot #949038 because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections. Young children, frail or elderly people, pregnant women and others with weakened immune systems are at particular risk.
The recalled product was sold in 11-pound wheels and distributed to stores in MD, VA, OH, Washington DC, IL, IN, LA, MI, MN, MO, NE, OK, TX, WI, CA, OR, WA, AZ, UT, HI between June 1st and July 24th, 2013. Products were sold to supermarkets and gourmet stores and cut into smaller wedges. A complete list of retailers has not been issued, Whole Foods is the first retailer to step forward with information about the problem.
No illness have been reported to date. The recall was issued after a routine sampling program by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed the finished products contained the bacteria. Trois Comtois has ceased the production and distribution of the product, an investigation is ongoing.
People who have this cheese should not eat it. Earlier this summer, another cheese was linked to a Listeria outbreak that killed one person and caused a pregnant woman to suffer a miscarriage.
