Kuster’s Dairy of Michigan is recalling 14,238 pounds of several varieties of cheese because it was notified by its supplier, Farm Country Cheese, that the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. No illnesses have been reported to date. The recalled products include shredded, sliced, and cubed cheese.
Products included in this recall are: Sharp white cheddar, mozzarella/muenster/provolone, Monterey Jack, pepper jack, four blend, three blend; pepper jack cubes; and co/jack slices. The cubed cheese was packaged under the label Nor-Tech Dairy Pepper Jack 3/4″ Cubed (packed on 10/04/2016). The sliced cheese was packaged as Kuster’s Dairy Foods Sliced Colby Jack.
The shredded cheese was distributed in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. It was sold in 5 pound plastic bags. The brand names and varieties include Kuster’s Dairy Foods Three Blend (pack date 10/05/16), Fata’s Best Four Blend Feather Shred (lot date 27916), Fata’s Best Mozzarella Muenster Provolone Feather Shred (lot date 27916), Fata’s Best Monterey Jack Feather Shred (lot date 27916), Fata’s Best PepperJack Feather Shred (Lot date 27816), Nor-Tech Dairy Mozz/Muenster/Prov Feather Shred (best used by: 12-05-2016), and Nor-Tech Dairy Sharp White Cheddar Feather Shred (packed on 10.04.2016).
You can see pictures of recalled product labels at the FDA web site. If you purchased any of these products, do not eat them. Throw them away or take them back to the store where you bought them for a refund.
You should also clean out your refrigerator with a mild bleach solution, since Listeria can grow at refrigerator temperatures. Wash your hands well after handling these products.
If you ate these products, watch yourself for the symptoms of listeriosis for the next 70 days. Those symptoms could be like the flu, or they could include severe headache, high fever, nausea, diarrhea, neck stiffness, and abdominal cramps. Pregnant women may only be mildly ill but listeriosis can cause serious problems. If you do get sick, see your doctor.
