Earlier this week, Grassfields Cheese LLC recalled 10 tons of organic cheese due to potential E. coli contamination. In response to the Grassfields Cheese recall, Whole Foods initiated a recall of organic cheese products sold in many stores.
Whole Foods Recalls Select Organic Cheeses due to E. coli Contamination
According to the company, Whole Foods used Grassfields Cheese as one of its organic cheese suppliers. Whole Foods shipped the Grassfields products principally to stores in the south and midwest. While the products shipped mainly to those regions, all patrons of the store should check their cheese against recall details.
The recall includes the following types of cheese: Gouda, Country Dill, Edam, Fait Gras, Polkton Corners, Lamont Cheddar, Leyden, and Onion ‘n Garlic.
Whole Foods packaged the cheeses in clear plastic wrap. The cheeses subject to recall have scale labels beginning with PLU codes from 0206151 through 0206159 and “sell by” dates as late as 9/2/2016.
According to Whole Foods, it sold the cheeses in its stores located in the following states: Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin. According to the company’s release, “not all products were sold in all stores.”
Grassfields Farms Cheese Recall Linked to E. coli Outbreak
As previously reported by Food Poisoning News, Grassfields Cheese initiated a recall of approximately 20,000 pounds of organic cheese earlier this week. The recall came after a sample of the company’s cheese taken by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development tested positive for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), a bacteria that can cause serious illness in humans.
Officials discovered the contamination in the course of investigating an outbreak of seven cases of STEC. All seven cases occurred between March and July of 2016, and testing linked all seven cases to the same type of STEC. This outbreak prompted investigators to look into the organic cheese produced at Grassfields Cheese.
At this time, Whole Foods is the only wholesale or retail purchaser that has announced a recall; however, sources indicate that additional companies purchased Grassfields Cheese for resale.
If you or a family member became ill have been diagnosed with E. coli and you would like to explore pursuing a legal claim, contact an attorney at Ron Simon & Associates for a free case evaluation.
