Issaquah, Washington-based retailer Costco and Tillamook, Oregon-based dairy cooperative Tillamook County Creamery Association (“Tillamook”) have announced a voluntary recall for a specific Tillamook-brand cheese product sold at Costco stores. The reason for the recall is due to the potential for foreign material contamination.
Background
A notice published on Costco’s website written by Mike Bever, Tillamook’s Executive Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer said that during standard food safety and quality checks that the organization had “identified a very small quantity of gray and black plastic pieces that may be present in a limited quantity supply of Monterey Jack Cheese.”
The affected product was produced only for Costco and was distributed to Costco retail locations in the Northwest region. Costco’s website defines the Northwest region as the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
Product Details
- Product name – Tillamook Monterey Jack and Tillamook Colby Jack Cheese
- The notice states that the gray and black plastic pieces have only been found in the Monterey Jack portion of the package.
- Size – 32 ounces
- Packaging – Individual slices of Monterey Jack and Colby Jack packaged in plastic with “Tillamook” logo.
- Best if Used By Date: October 22, 2024
Consumer Action
Consumers should search their refrigerators and freezers for the recalled cheese product.
As with all recalls, even if the affected product looks or smells safe to eat it should not be consumed.
Consumers with the impacted product should return it to Costco for a full refund.
Consumers with additional questions or concerns can contact Tillamook by phone at 855-562-3568 or via email at [email protected].
Health Risks
The notice says that consumers who “have already consumed the product without issue, you do not need to take any action, as the likely presence of the foreign plastic material is very minimal.”
According to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) compliance policy guide Foods, Adulteration Involving Hard or Sharp Foreign Objects, “Hard or sharp foreign objects in food may cause traumatic laceration and perforation of tissues of the mouth, tongue, throat, stomach, and intestine as well as damage to the teeth and gums.”
Commenting on this story, one national food safety attorney said, “I recommend that any consumers who have ingested the recalled product and are experiencing injury or adverse reactions should contact their medical provider as soon as possible.”
