Whole Foods Market is recalling Papillon Organic Roquefort cheese sold in its stores nationwide because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
A routine sampling conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found the bacterium in a whole, uncut wheel of the cheese.
The Roquefort cheese was cut and packaged in clear plastic wrap and sold with Whole Foods Market scale labels. The recalled cheese can be identified by a label that begins with PLU 029536.
Signs have been posted on retail store shelves to notify customers of this recall, and all the recalled cheese has been removed from shelves, Whole Foods said.
No illnesses or infections have been reported.
Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems.
Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.
Consumers should seek immediate medical care if they develop these symptoms.
Consumers who find the recalled cheese in their home should throw it away and wash out their refrigerator shelf with hot soapy water. They can bring their receipt to any Whole Foods Market store for a refund.
Consumers with questions should contact their local store or call 512-477-5566 ext. 20060 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST.
