A listeria outbreak linked to contaminated cheese has prompted supermarket chain Hy-Vee to recall products in eight states.
Eight products, including cheese boards and gift baskets, have been pulled from shelves as officials try to stop the spread.
Listeria is a serious infection, usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium listeria monocytogenes, which causes intestinal illness.
It can become more severe, causing confusion, seizures, miscarriage, and stillbirth in pregnant women.
There have been six cases so far, four of which have been hospitalized, in six different states.
The recalled products have expiration dates from September 28 to December 14 and were sold at Hy-Vee grocery stores in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Customers who purchased any of the products must dispose of them or return them to a Hy-Vee store for a full refund.
Hy-Vee said in a statement that no illnesses have been reported to the company and that the recall is “voluntary” and “out of an abundance of caution.”
Hy-Vee recalled Brie and Camembert cheese products, including gift baskets and cheese boards, after bacteria that cause listeria were found at the cheesemaker’s Michigan facility.
Hy-Vee has more than 280 locations in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
On Friday, Old Europe Cheese voluntarily recalled all of its Brie and Camembert cheeses, including more than 20 brands, due to the dangerous bacteria.
The products were distributed from August 1 to September 28, the company said in a warning notice released by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
They were stocked at retailers including Albertsons, Safeway, Meijer, Harding’s, Shaw’s, Price Chopper, Market Basket, Raley’s, Save Mart, Giant Foods, Stop & Shop, Fresh Thyme, Lidl, Sprouts, Athenian Foods, and Whole Foods.
The FDA has warned people not to consume any of the recalled products.
Those who aren’t sure what brand their Brie or Camembert cheese is should ask their retailer or throw it out.
Cases have so far been found in California, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey and Texas, with the last illness recorded on August 6.
With the support of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the FDA inspected the Old Europe Cheese Michigan facility and found the bacteria responsible for listeria.
The analysis found that the strain of listeria at the facility is the same as the strain causing illness in this outbreak.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said investigators are working to see if other products are contaminated.
They recommend cleaning your refrigerator, as listeria can survive there, and any other surfaces the recalled cheese may have touched.
Brie Hostess Cranberry Brie Torte from Hy-Vee is one of eight recalled products. Customers who purchased any of the products are advised to discard them or return them to their local store for a full refund.
People with any symptoms of listeria after eating the recalled products should call their health care provider right away, the CDC said.
Many foods can harbor listeria, but it’s usually found in raw milk, soft cheeses, and ready-to-eat foods like prepackaged sandwiches.
Listeria is widespread in the environment and can be found in raw food and soil, and in the droppings of many mammals, birds, and fish.
Pregnant women and their newborns, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk.
Mild symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting usually begin within 24 hours of eating contaminated food and usually last one to three days.
However, if the infection spreads beyond the intestine, it becomes an invasive disease, with symptoms occurring within two weeks of consuming listeria-contaminated food.
This can cause fever, flu-like symptoms, confusion, and even seizures.
Invasive disease during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or a life-threatening infection of the newborn, and nearly 1 in 20 nonpregnant people with invasive listeria die.
The infection is treated with antibiotics.
According to the CDC, about 1,600 Americans get listeria each year and about 260 die.
You can avoid listeria by wash your hands regularly with soap and water, wash fruits and vegetables before eatingprepare ready-to-eat foods as recommended by the manufacturer and make Make sure all hot food is piping hot.
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