The Recall of Inverloch Cheeses for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination in Canada has been updated to include many more products. The original recall, issued on November 20, 2015 has been updated. No illnesses have been reported to date, but the illness caused by this bacteria can take up to 70 days to appear.
You can see the long list of recalled products, along with the brand name, package size, and UPC numbers at the CFIA web site. The two brand names are Isle of Kintyre and Inverloch Cheese Company. The products include Gigha Cheese, Captain’s Claret – Mature Cheddar & Claret, Ben Gunn – Mature Cheddar & Chives, Laird’s Mustard Mature Cheddar & Whole Grain Mustard, Applesmoke Mature Cheddar, Drumloch, and Old Smoky – Oak Smoked Flavoured Mature Cheddar, among others. You can also see pictures of product labels at the CFIA site.
If you purchased any of these recalled products, do not eat them. Throw them away in a sealed or double bagged container, or return them to the place where you bought them for a full refund. Wash your hands well after handling any of these products.
Then clean out your refrigerator and anywhere the cheese was placed with a mild bleach solution to kill any remaining bacteria. Listeria monocytogenes can grow at refrigerator temperatures.
If you ate any of these recalled cheeses, monitor yourself for the symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes food poisoning for the next two months. Those symptoms include flu-like fever and muscle aches, upset stomach, diarrhea, stiff neck, headache, loss of balance, and confusion. Pregnant women may only be mildly ill, but this infection can cause stillbirth and miscarriage. If you do get sick, see your doctor and tell him about this recall.
