MONROE - Cheeses recently shredded at Alpine Slicing and Cheese Conversion of Monroe are being voluntarily recalled by the company and the retail distributors of those products.
Since last week, at least five companies, including Alpine Slicing, have issued a recall of some products after learning that certain products processed on the shred line at the processing facility had tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes during voluntary, routine testing by an independent laboratory. Other products produced on the same line, even if they have been tested and found to be negative, have the potential to be contaminated.
The recalls are completely voluntary by the companies at the request of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. No illnesses have been reported, according to the department.
"Anytime we find a contamination that could have found its way into the cheese, we work with the company to give them a chance to issue a recall," said Donna Gilson, a spokesperson for the state department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Without a voluntary recall, the state would have issued a consumer advisory, she added.
In the case of Alpine Slicing, Gilson said the company was quick to comply with the request and acted in issuing its own recalls for the cheese products it processed.
Other companies, after being informed by Alpine Slicing about the potential contamination, followed suit in issuing recalls, reporting that their products were shredded in the plant at the time the Listeria was found in the plant.
So far, cheeses that are being recalled are:
- Brennan's Cellars Shredded Premium Fondue Blend (of) Emmentaler Swiss and Gruyere Cheese, identifier code 290A11, distributed between Nov. 23 and Dec. 6, 2011; Brennan's Cellars Shredded Mild Colored Cheddar Cheese, distributed on Oct. 8, 2011 with a sell by date of Feb. 18, 2012 on the back of the package; and Brennan's Cellars Shredded Part Skim Mozzarella Cheese, distributed on Oct. 8, 2011 with a sell by date of Feb. 18, 2012. The recalled cheeses were distributed to Brennan's stores in Milwaukee, Dane and Green counties.
- Nordic Creamery Grumpy Goat Shreds in 8-ounce packages produced by Bekkum Family Farms LLC of Westby. The cheese, with an expiration date of March 12, 2012, was sold in Wisconsin, Minnesota and California beginning Nov. 11, according to a statement from the company.
- Edelweiss Creamery Premium Fondue Blend, distributed between Nov. 1 and Dec. 30, 2011. The Fondue Blend is packed in 16 oz. packages with a red and blue label, the UPC code 758590116914 and the identifier code 290A11. The blend was distributed to Horrock's, Lansing, Mich.; Metcalfe's Markets in Wisconsin; Maple Leaf Cheese Outlet, Juda; Gempeler's Supermarket, Monticello; Sprouts Farmers Market, 690 3rd Ave., Chula Vista, Calif.; and Sunflower Farmers Markets in Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, and California.
- Miller's shredded cheese (Pizza, Mozzarella, Cheddar, Fancy, Muenster), all 8 oz. and 16 oz. bags with an expiration of June 5-Sept. 4, 2012; Miller's shredded Mozzarella, all 32 oz. bags with an expiration date of Feb. 6-May 7, 2012; and Miller's shredded Mozzarella, Cheddar, Muenster and Monterey Jack, all 5-pound bags with a pack date of Sept. 8-Dec. 7, 2011.
- Haolam shredded cheese (Pizza, Mozzarella, Cheddar, Fancy, Muenster, R/F Muenster, R/F Cheddar), all 8 oz. and 16 oz. bags with an expiration of June 5-Sept. 4, 2012; Haolam shredded Mozzarella and Gourmet Blend, all 32 oz. bags with an expiration date of Feb. 6-May 7, 2012; and Haolam shredded Mozzarella, Cheddar and Muenster, all 5-pound bags with a pack date of Sept. 8-Dec. 7, 2011.
Several other companies are working on releases announcing recalls of their products as well, Gilson said.
The likelihood of tracing the origin of the contamination is negligible. The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection concentrated on cleaning up the contamination, Gilson said.
"Listeria is considered 'ubiquitous' in the environment, meaning that it is always around," Gilson said. "It can come into the plant on anything or anyone."
The bacterium likes cool living conditions and thrives in refrigeration, she added.
Listeria monocytogenes 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.
Alpine Slicing and Cheese Conversion Company has contacted the FDA and issued the recall to retail grocery stores and distributors in all of the affected states. The company has ceased the production and distribution of the product as the FDA and the company continues their investigation into matter. All remaining inventory has been quarantined.
Consumers are urged to stop consuming the recalled product and return all recalled products to the store of purchase. Consumers with questions may contact Alpine Slicing and Cheese Conversion Company at (608) 934-5707, from 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by e-mail at ascserv@gmail.com.
Since last week, at least five companies, including Alpine Slicing, have issued a recall of some products after learning that certain products processed on the shred line at the processing facility had tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes during voluntary, routine testing by an independent laboratory. Other products produced on the same line, even if they have been tested and found to be negative, have the potential to be contaminated.
The recalls are completely voluntary by the companies at the request of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. No illnesses have been reported, according to the department.
"Anytime we find a contamination that could have found its way into the cheese, we work with the company to give them a chance to issue a recall," said Donna Gilson, a spokesperson for the state department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Without a voluntary recall, the state would have issued a consumer advisory, she added.
In the case of Alpine Slicing, Gilson said the company was quick to comply with the request and acted in issuing its own recalls for the cheese products it processed.
Other companies, after being informed by Alpine Slicing about the potential contamination, followed suit in issuing recalls, reporting that their products were shredded in the plant at the time the Listeria was found in the plant.
So far, cheeses that are being recalled are:
- Brennan's Cellars Shredded Premium Fondue Blend (of) Emmentaler Swiss and Gruyere Cheese, identifier code 290A11, distributed between Nov. 23 and Dec. 6, 2011; Brennan's Cellars Shredded Mild Colored Cheddar Cheese, distributed on Oct. 8, 2011 with a sell by date of Feb. 18, 2012 on the back of the package; and Brennan's Cellars Shredded Part Skim Mozzarella Cheese, distributed on Oct. 8, 2011 with a sell by date of Feb. 18, 2012. The recalled cheeses were distributed to Brennan's stores in Milwaukee, Dane and Green counties.
- Nordic Creamery Grumpy Goat Shreds in 8-ounce packages produced by Bekkum Family Farms LLC of Westby. The cheese, with an expiration date of March 12, 2012, was sold in Wisconsin, Minnesota and California beginning Nov. 11, according to a statement from the company.
- Edelweiss Creamery Premium Fondue Blend, distributed between Nov. 1 and Dec. 30, 2011. The Fondue Blend is packed in 16 oz. packages with a red and blue label, the UPC code 758590116914 and the identifier code 290A11. The blend was distributed to Horrock's, Lansing, Mich.; Metcalfe's Markets in Wisconsin; Maple Leaf Cheese Outlet, Juda; Gempeler's Supermarket, Monticello; Sprouts Farmers Market, 690 3rd Ave., Chula Vista, Calif.; and Sunflower Farmers Markets in Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, and California.
- Miller's shredded cheese (Pizza, Mozzarella, Cheddar, Fancy, Muenster), all 8 oz. and 16 oz. bags with an expiration of June 5-Sept. 4, 2012; Miller's shredded Mozzarella, all 32 oz. bags with an expiration date of Feb. 6-May 7, 2012; and Miller's shredded Mozzarella, Cheddar, Muenster and Monterey Jack, all 5-pound bags with a pack date of Sept. 8-Dec. 7, 2011.
- Haolam shredded cheese (Pizza, Mozzarella, Cheddar, Fancy, Muenster, R/F Muenster, R/F Cheddar), all 8 oz. and 16 oz. bags with an expiration of June 5-Sept. 4, 2012; Haolam shredded Mozzarella and Gourmet Blend, all 32 oz. bags with an expiration date of Feb. 6-May 7, 2012; and Haolam shredded Mozzarella, Cheddar and Muenster, all 5-pound bags with a pack date of Sept. 8-Dec. 7, 2011.
Several other companies are working on releases announcing recalls of their products as well, Gilson said.
The likelihood of tracing the origin of the contamination is negligible. The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection concentrated on cleaning up the contamination, Gilson said.
"Listeria is considered 'ubiquitous' in the environment, meaning that it is always around," Gilson said. "It can come into the plant on anything or anyone."
The bacterium likes cool living conditions and thrives in refrigeration, she added.
Listeria monocytogenes 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.
Alpine Slicing and Cheese Conversion Company has contacted the FDA and issued the recall to retail grocery stores and distributors in all of the affected states. The company has ceased the production and distribution of the product as the FDA and the company continues their investigation into matter. All remaining inventory has been quarantined.
Consumers are urged to stop consuming the recalled product and return all recalled products to the store of purchase. Consumers with questions may contact Alpine Slicing and Cheese Conversion Company at (608) 934-5707, from 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by e-mail at ascserv@gmail.com.