The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is telling consumers to avoid eating some cheese and salsa produced by Parkers Farm Acquisition of Coon Rapids, MN because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. No reports of illness have been received to date, although it can take up to 2 months for the symptoms of listeriosis to develop.
The recalled products include 8 ounce containers of Parkers cold pack cheese. The package is a round plastic tub with a snap-on lid. The varieties are sharp cheddar and port wine, with a sell by date of 5/21/15. Also recalled is 14 ounce round plastic tubs of Parkers cold pack cheese in sharp cheddar and port wine varieties with a sell by date of 5/20/15.
Parkers salsa in 16 ounce round plastic tubs with a snap on lid are recalled. The flavors are hot, mild, garlic, and fire-roasted, with a sell by date of 9/19/2014. Finally, 5 pound and 10 pound bulk foodservice products are recalled, including cold pack cheese foods and cheese spreads with a sell by date of 2/17/15.
The products are distributed locally under the Parkers Farm label. They were sold at stores including but not limited to Cub, Rainbow, County Market, and Kowalski’s. If you purchased any of these products, do not eat them. Discard in a closed container or return to the place of purchase for a refund.
If you ate any of these products, you must monitor yourself for the symptoms of listeriosis for the next 70 days. Those symptoms include headache, neck stiffness, nausea, upset stomach, and diarrhea. Pregnant women may only have a mild illness, but listeriosis can lead to stillbirth and miscarriage. If you do develop symptoms, see your doctor and tell her you ate one of the recalled products.
