Cheese is a miracle food with limitless possibilities for anyone whose digestive system can handle dairy. It can top pizzas, melt into noodles, or make a great snack or meal on its own. But like any food product, it can sometimes pose potential health risks. And now, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a new warning about certain cheeses that customers should not eat. Read on to see which dairy products the agency deemed a safety risk.
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As part of food safety oversight in the US, federal agencies work tirelessly to ensure products are safe to eat. Unfortunately, despite strict rules governing the manufacturing and production process, it sometimes only becomes apparent that a particular item could be potentially harmful after it is sold and consumed.
Lately, the FDA has issued several far-reaching food warnings and recalls due to potential health threats. On May 28, the agency announced that it will sell fresh organic strawberries under the brands FreshKampo and HEB were unsafe for consumption after an investigation found that the fruit was linked to a recent outbreak of hepatitis A in three states and Canada. Although the affected berries, which were distributed and sold at a wide range of major grocers including Walmart, Kroger, Aldi, HEB, Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Market, Trader Joe’s, Weis Markets and WinCo Foods, are past their lifetime helpful, the agency warned that anyone who has frozen them for later consumption should dispose of them immediately.
And since an initial announcement on May 20, the FDA has issued a growing string of withdrawals related to the potential discovery of JM Smucker Co. Salmonella contamination in your Jif Peanut Butter Products. The growing number of affected items goes far beyond the jars of pantry staples, including fresh fruit snack cups prepared by the Albertsons Companies and sold by more than 20 supermarket chains, and certain fudge products sold by Walmart. Now, health authorities have issued another important warning related to food safety.
On June 1, the FDA announced that Paris Brothers, Inc. remembering various cheeses produced after discovering a potential health risk. Items include Cottonwood River Cheddar, D’amir Brie Double Crème French Brie, Milton Prairie Breeze White Cheddar Style, Milton Tomato Garlic Cheddar, Paris Brothers Mild Cheddar, Paris Brothers Colby Jack, Paris Brothers Pepper Jack and Cervasi Pecorino Romano.
According to the advisory, all affected products were produced on May 4, 5, and 6, 2022, and have lot codes 05042022, 05052022, or 05062022 printed on their shipping cartons. The cheeses were distributed to supermarkets in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Nebraska, South Dakota, and a single store in Mississippi and Florida.
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According to the notice, Paris Brothers issued the product recall after discovering that the cheeses could potentially be contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes. The FDA warns that dangerous bacteria can cause serious and possibly fatal infections if ingested, especially in young children, frail or elderly people, or people who are immunocompromised or have weakened immune systems.
Healthy adults will typically experience symptoms including high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea within a few hours to two to three days after consuming an item contaminated with the microorganism. However, the agency warns that listeria it can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.
While no illnesses related to the recall have yet been reported, the FDA recommends that anyone who purchased the affected cheeses should return them to the store where they were purchased for a full refund immediately. Any customer with questions about the recall can call 816-455-4188 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST and request the FDA contact, Doug Schnell.
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