US Shredded Cheese Recalls Multiply

On December 29, 2011, Miller’s Cheese Corp. (Brooklyn, NY) sent a recall notice to its customers. The notice began:

Dear Customer: 

For the first time in our 110-year history, a voluntary recall by the State of Wisconsin involves a packaging facility that handles only the shredding and packaging (not the actual cheese production) of some limited shredded Miller’s products. Although the test results for all of the Miller’s shredded cheese distributed in the market place tested negative for Listeria monocytogenes, the State of Wisconsin has requested a voluntary recall of all the products that were shredded in that plant from the time the listeria was found in another brand of cheese also packed in this plant.

That same day, World Cheese Company (New York, NY) also sent a recall notice to its customers. That notice began:

Dear Customer:

For the first time in our 75-year history, a voluntary recall by the State of Wisconsin involves a packaging facility that handles only the shredding and packaging (not the actual cheese production) of some limited shredded Haolam products. Although the test results for all of the Haolam’s shredded cheese distributed in the market place tested negative for Listeria monocytogenes, the State of Wisconsin has requested a voluntary recall of all the products that were shredded in that plant from the time the listeria was found in another brand of cheese also packed in this plant.

The initial recalls covered certain varieties of Miller’s and Haolam shredded cheeses; however, Alpine Slicing and Cheese Conversion Company (a Wisconsin company) soon chimed in with its own recall list, covering several brands of grated and shredded cheeses.

Following is a consolidated list of shredded and grated cheeses cheeses, all of which were recalled recently due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes:

• BMF Queso Quesadilla (Shredded): 5 lb. packages; Sell by dates of 16FEB12, 01MAR12 or 15MAR12, on product cases. Distributed in New York between October 21, 2011 and January 3, 2012.
• Brennan’s Cellars Shredded Mild Colored Cheddar Cheese: 16-oz packages; Sell by date 18FEB12. Distributed to Brennan’s Stores located in Milwaukee, Dane and Green Counties, Wisconsin on October 8, 2011.
• Brennan’s Cellars Shredded Part Skim Mozzarella Cheese: 16-oz packages; Sell by date 18FEB12. Distributed to Brennan’s Stores located in Milwaukee, Dane and Green Counties, Wisconsin on October 8, 2011.
• Brennan’s Cellars Shredded Premium Fondue Blend – Emmentaler Swiss & Gruyere Cheese: 16-oz packages; Identifier code 290A11. Distributed to Brennan’s Stores located in Milwaukee, Dane and Green Counties, Wisconsin between November 23, 2011 and December 6.
• Edelweiss Creamery Premium Fondue Blend: 16-oz pckages; UPC 758590116914; Identifier code 290A11. Distributed between November 1, 2011 and December 30, 2011 to Horrock’s (Lansing, MI), Metcalfe’s Markets (Wisconsin), Maple Leaf Cheese Outlet (Juda, WI), Gempeler’s Supermarket (Monticello, WI), Sprouts Farmers Market (one Chula Vista, CA location), and Sunflower Farmers Markets (Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, and California).
• El Viajero Queso Quesadilla (Shredded): 8 oz packages; UPC 0 7282014045 7; Sell by dates of 24FEB12, 09MAR12 or 15MAR12. Distributed in Wisconsin, Illinois, Tennessee and Florida between November 1, 2011 and January 3, 2012.
• El Viajero Queso Cotija (Grated): 4 lb. packages; Use-by code 09MAR12. Distributed in Indiana and Minnesota between November 11, 2011 and January 3, 2012.
• Haolam Shredded Pizza, Mozzarella, Cheddar, Fancy, Muenster, R/F Muenster and R/F Cheddar cheeses:8-oz and 16-oz bags; Expiration date of June 5, 2012 through Sept 4, 2012.
• Haolam Shredded Mozzarella and Gourmet Blend cheeses: 32-oz bags; Expiration date of February 6, 2012 through May 7, 2012.
• Haolam Shredded Mozzarella, Cheddar and Muenster cheeses: 5-lb bags; Pack date of September 8, 2011 through December 7, 2011.
• HEB Queso Cotija (Grated): 8 oz. packages; UPC 0 4122024846 9; Sell-by dates of 08FEB12 and 09MAR12. Distributed in Texas between October 27, 2011 and December 23, 2011.
• Miller’s Shredded Pizza, Mozzarella, Cheddar, Fancy and Muenster cheeses: 8-oz and 16-oz bags; Expiration date of June 5, 2012 through Sept 4, 2012.
• Miller’s Shredded Mozzarella cheese: 32-oz bags; Expiration date of February 6, 2012 through May 7, 2012.
• Miller’s Shredded Mozzarella, Cheddar, Muenster and Monterey Jack cheeses: 5-lb bags; Pack date of September 8, 2011 through December 7, 2011.
• Nordic Creamery Brand Grumpy Goat Shreds: 8-oz bags; Code date 10-MAR-12. Sold in stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota and California beginning Nov. 11, 2011.

Several retail supermarkets and grocery stores have alerted their customers to this recall, including:

• Giant Food, LLC: Miller’s Shredded Cheddar Cheese (UPC 7881236950), Miller’s Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 7881200910), Haloam Shredded Cheddar Cheese (UPC 2663826200), Haolam Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 2663800264) and Haolam Shredded Pizza Cheese (UPC 2663826300)
• Giant Eagle, Inc: Haloam Shredded Cheddar Cheese (UPC 2663826200), Haolam Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 2663800264) and Haolam Shredded Mozzarella/Cheddar (UPC 2663826500)
• Giant Food Stores: Miller’s Shredded Cheddar Cheese (UPC 7881236950), Miller’s Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 7881200910), Haloam Cheddar Shredded Cheese (UPC 2663826200), Haolam Shredded Mozzarella Shredded Cheese (UPC 2663800264) and Haolam Regular Real Natural Pizza Shredded Mozzarella Muenster Cheese (UPC 2663826300)
• Kroger, King Soopers, City Market & QFC: Miller Shredded Fancy Cheese (8 oz), Miller Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (8 oz.), Miller Shredded Muenster Cheese (8 oz), Miller Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (16 oz), and Miller Shredded Colored Cheddar Cheese (8 oz). Affected in Kroger stores located in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Knoxville, Tennessee, Texas and Louisiana, Central and Northwest Ohio and N. West Virginia panhandle, North Carolina, Virginia, Eastern WV, Eastern Kentucky, SE Ohio, Greater Memphis, TN, Arkansas, Mississippi and Western Kentucky; King Soopers, City Market and QFC stores.
• Price Chopper: Miller’s Shredded Cheddar Cheese (UPC 7881200910?), Miller’s Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 7881200910), Haolam Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 2663800264) and Haolam Shredded Pizza Cheese (2663826300).
• Stop & Shop: Miller’s Shredded Cheddar Cheese (UPC 7881236950), Miller’s Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 7881200910), Haloam Shredded Cheddar Cheese (UPC 2663826200), Haolam Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (UPC 2663800264) and Haolam Shredded Pizza Cheese (UPC 2663826300)