Listeria Contamination Prompts Cheese Recall of Sargento, Other Brands

UPDATED WITH EXPANDED RECALL INFORMATION. Routine testing of cheese by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture found Listeria in a sample of Amish Classic Colby deli cheese and the finding has prompted a cheese recall of other brands produced by the same manufacturer, including Sargento brand, Mejier’s and a number of others. Many of the cheeses were supplied to deli counters in retail stores.

According to the agency, it took a sample of the Amish Classic Colby from a store in Trenton, Tenn. on Jan. 30, 2017 and sent it to the state laboratory for testing, which discovered the sample was contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Deutsch Kase Haus, LLC of Middlebury, Ind manufactured the cheese. The company makes cheese for a number of retailers and major brands and instructed all wholesalers and retailers to stop selling Amish Classic Colby deli horns distributed by MDS Foods under the Amish Classic label with item number 55209 and sold as sliced deli cheese. It is also recalling lot numbers 110316V02, 110316V03 and 110316V04. Meijer’s Colby-jack deli horn lot number 110316V08 and Meijer’s Colby deli horn lot numbers 110316V08, sold exclusively at Meijer grocery stores, are also part of the cheese recall.

Deutsch Kase Haus also notified Sargento Foods Inc. that cheese supplied to the company’s Wisconsin packaging facility must also be recalled due to potential contamination with Listeria. On Friday, Sargento announced the recall of Sargento Ultra Thin Sliced Longhorn Colby and Sargento Chef Blends Shredded Nacho & Taco Cheese that were supplied by Deutsch Kase Haus, and five additional cheese products because they were packaged on the same line as the affected cheese.

UPDATED FEB. 17, 2017 TO INCLUDE EXPANDED CHEESE RECALL INFORMATION

“Sargento Foods announced on Feb. 17, 2017 that it is voluntarily expanding the recall of cheese supplied by Deutsch Kase Haus due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes that originated from the supplier’s facility,” the company said. “Out of concern for the health and well-being of Sargento consumers, the company has also terminated its relationship with Deutsch Kase Haus, which supplied Sargento with the affected Longhorn Colby cheese.”

Sargento products included in the cheese recall as of Feb. 17, 2017:

UPC	Size	Photo	Description	Sell By Dates
4610000105	8 oz.		Sargento Sliced Colby	15MAY17F
4610000107	8 oz.		Sargento Sliced Muenster	05MAR17F
				06MAR17F
				16APR17F
				17APR17F
				15APR17F
4610000122	7.5 oz.		Sargento Sliced Pepper Jack	03MAY17B
4610000279	6.67 oz.		Sargento Sliced Tomato & Basil Jack	03MAR17B
4610041018	8 oz.		Sargento Shredded Reduced Fat Colby-Jack	H07APR17
4610041105	8 oz.		Sargento Shredded Chef Blends 4 Cheese Pizzeria	H10APR17
4610040094	8 oz.		Sargento Artisan Blends Double Cheddar Shredded Cheese	H09JUN17
				H08JUN17
4610000228	6.84 oz.		Ultra Thin Sliced Longhorn Colby	02FEB17F
				01MAR17B
				16MAR17F
				12APR17B
				10MAY17B
4610040041	8 oz.		Chef Blends Shredded Nacho & Taco	H04MAY17
				S15MAY17
				H01JUN17
				H14JUN17
				H12JUL17
4610000108	12 oz.		Sliced Pepper Jack	02MAY17B
				03MAY17B
				11JUN17B
				12JUN17B
				09JUL17B
				10JUL17B
4610000109	12 oz.		Sliced Colby-Jack	01MAY17B
				11JUN17B
4610040002	8 oz.		Chef Blends Shredded Taco	H11MAY17
				H01JUN17
				H14JUN17
				F28JUN17
4610040014	8 oz.		Off the Block Fine Cut Shredded Colby-Jack	H06MAY17
				F05JUL17
4610040076	8 oz.		Off the Block Fine Cut Shredded Cheddar Jack	H07MAY17
				H08MAY17
				H09MAY17
				F05JUL17

“Food safety is our number one priority at Sargento,” the company said. “We are vigilantly monitoring this issue to ensure the situation will be resolved in a timely manner. Our unwavering commitment to safety is at the core of everything we do at Sargento.  We are in full cooperation with the federal Food and Drug Administration to rigorously investigate and resolve this issue.”

Sargento offers an online product search tool to help consumers determine if a product is affected by the cheese recall. Consumers may also call 1-800-CHEESES (1-800-243-3737) with questions regarding Sargento cheese.

Additional Cheese Brands Included in the Expanded Cheese Recall

Saputo Recalling Great Midwest Applewood Smoked Gouda and Dutchmark Smoked Gouda Cheese

Saputo Inc. is voluntarily recalling certain Gouda cheese products in the United States after having been notified by Deutsch Kase Haus that some specialty Gouda cheese products that it supplied to Saputo’s Green Bay, Wisconsin facility may have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The affected retail products are the Great Midwest Applewood Smoked Gouda cheeses. As a precautionary measure, Saputo is also recalling the Dutchmark Smoked Gouda cheeses that were packaged on the same line.

Biery Cheese Co. is Recalling Specialty Longhorn Colby Cheese

Biery Cheese Co. is voluntarily recalling specialty Longhorn Colby cheese due to potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes after Deutsch Kase Haus notified the company that they supplied Biery Cheese with various type cheeses that may be contaminated. The products were distributed between November 11, 2016 and January 4, 2017.  These products were packaged at Biery Cheese Company in Louisville, OH and distributed to distribution centers located in the States of: Georgia, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. Consumers with questions may contact Biery Cheese Co at 1-800-243-3731.

Guggisberg Cheese Inc. Recalling Colby Cheeses

Guggisberg Cheese Inc. is recalling various types of Colby cheeses and sizes due to a potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes. The affected products were manufactured both by Guggisberg Cheese, Inc. and by Deutsch Kase Haus under the Guggisberg label between September 1, 2016 and January 27, 2017. These products were packaged in clear plastic and sold primarily in retail stores at deli counters and deli cases located in the States of: Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Illinois, and West Virginia.

MDS Foods Expands List of Recalled Cheeses

MDS Foods has expanded its cheese recall to include multiple products some of which were found to be contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes and other products which may have the potential to be contaminated with the bacteria. Deutsch Kase Haus supplied MDS Foods with the affected cheeses. Consumers with questions may contact MDS Foods Customer Service: (330) 879-9780.

Cheese products being recalled due to FOUND contamination from cheese supplier: