Recall Morbier Cheese For Listeria

Whole Foods Market announces that it is recalling Trois Comtois Morbier cheese. This cheese is being recalled because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which 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 among pregnant women.

The recalled Trois Comtois Morbier comes in wheels approximately 11 lbs. each, which are then cut and wrapped in varying weights and are labeled with a Whole Foods Market scale label.  Below is a list of how the cheese was labeled, including PLU code, according to the state in which it was sold. This recall includes all “best by” dates sold in Whole Foods Market stores in the states listed below.

State	Labeled as	PLU
Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas	Morbier Raw Milk	293358
Ohio, Virginia, Washington D.C.	Morbier AOC Le Trois	293608
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Wisconsin	Morbier Raw Milk French Cheese	293358
Southern California, Hawaii, Arizona	Morbier Raw Milk	293358
Northern California and Nevada (Reno store only)	Morbier Les Trois Comtois	293608

To date, no illnesses have been reported to Whole Foods Market. This recall is in response to a recall by Trois Comtois in Poligny, France. Whole Foods Market is one of many retailers affected by this recall, as the product is also purchased by grocery stores, restaurants, and individual mail orders. Product was distributed in MD, VA, OH, Washington DC, IL, IN, LA, MI, MN, MO, NE, OK, TX, WI, CA, OR, WA, AZ, UT, HI  between June 1st and July 24th, 2013. Products were sold to  other supermarkets , gourmet stores and online. The cheese has a vegetable ash in the middle

Signage is posted in all Whole Foods Market Mid Atlantic, Southwest, Northern California, Southern Pacific and Midwest stores to notify customers of this recall. Customers who have purchased this product from Whole Foods Market should discard it, and may bring in their receipt for a full refund. Consumers with questions may call 512-477-5566, extension 20060, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time.