The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is alerting consumers to avoid eating certain cheese and salsa products produced by Parkers Farm Acquisition LLC of Coon Rapids, MN, due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.
There have been no reports of illness associated with consumption of the products. Parkers Farm is cooperating with the department’s 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 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 food service 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 via the website.
Earlier this year, several Parkers Farm products (peanut butter, cheese, salsa and spreads) were voluntarily recalled after Minnesota Department of Agriculture sampling determined some of them to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
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 health care provider.
