According to Food Safety News, more than 130 additional cheeses and products containing cheeses are under recall because of Listeria monocytogenes found in cheese produced by Deutsch Kase Haus. A variety of cheese brands are involved, including Sargento, Sara Lee, Saputo, Dutch Valley, and Guggisberg, as well as a variety of store-branded products sold by Meijer, Albertsons, H-E-B, and other retailers.
The recalls, which began Feb. 10, stem from a random test conducted by Tennessee inspectors on samples of Amish Classics cheese collected from a retailer and produced by Deutsch Kase Haus of Middleburg, Ind. The cheese tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes and Tennessee officials posted a consumer alert.
Recalls such as this one not only affect the direct product in question, in this case cheese, they also trickle down to other CPG food products that may contain the recalled item. For example, Taylor Farms has recalled 6,630 lb of chicken and pork salad products that may be contaminated because Sargento supplies some cheese products. This trickle-down effect will mean that recalls may continue to arise as supply chains are notified.
One of the largest manufacturers affected, Sargento Foods, has expanded its Feb. 11 recall to include seven more products and announced it has stopped using Deutsch Kase Haus as a cheese supplier. A news release on the company’s website explained that, “Out of concern for the health and well-being of Sargento consumers, the company has terminated its relationship with Deutsch Kase Haus, which supplied Sargento with the affected Longhorn Colby cheese.”
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating the situation along with officials in several states. No illnesses have been confirmed in connection with the recalled products.