Cheese and Salsa Recalled Due to Listeria

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is alerting consumers to avoid eating certain cheese and salsa produced by Parkers Farm Acquisition, LLC of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.

Parkers Farm Acquisition, LLC is cooperating with the MDA investigation and has issued a voluntary recall of all products with the sell by dates listed below. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to return it to the place of purchase or discard it.

The list of recalled products includes:

• 8-ounce Parkers cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including sharp cheddar and port wine varieties with a sell by date of 5/21/2015;
• 14-ounce Parkers cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including sharp cheddar and port wine varieties with a sell by date of 5/20/2015;
• 16-ounce Parkers salsa in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including hot, mild, garlic, and fire-roasted varieties with a sell by date of 9/19/2014;
• 5-pound and 10-pound bulk foodservice products including cold pack cheese foods and cheese spreads with a sell by date of 2/17/2015.

The products are distributed locally under the Parkers Farm label. These products were sold at several retail stores including but not limited to Cub, Rainbow, County Market, and Kowalski’s stores. Consumers with questions can contact the company at (800) 869-6685 or the website:  www.parkersfarm.com.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially serious disease marked by fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, and nausea. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis, but it can sometimes cause fatal infections in infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis can also lead to miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.

Any consumers who believe they may have become ill after eating the products should contact their healthcare provider.