17
Mar
Recall of Brie and Camembert cheeses by Old Europe due to microbial contamination
Products Recalled:
All Brie and Camembert cheese produced by Old Europe Inc., with use-by dates from September 28th to December 14th 2022, was voluntarily recalled. The products were available in wholesale and retail stores and supermarkets in the U.S. and Mexico and were distributed from August 1st to September 28th 2022.
Problem:
- An environmental audit of the product and the company’s facilities revealed that one of the facilities’ samples tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The strain discovered from the sample was associated with six cases of listeriosis from 2017 to 2022. Although none of the cases was linked to its products, Old Europe Cheese decided to voluntarily recall the products to prevent risk to the consumers, focusing on their health.
- Old Europe Cheese has taken active measures to remove the product after the potential contamination source was identified. The production has been halted and will restart only after the company is fully confident with the measures.
- To make this voluntary recall as quick and easy as possible, the company coordinates closely with local, state, and federal authorities and its customers [1].
Scientific Evidence:
- Listeria monocytogenes ( monocytogenes) is a type of pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria that thrives in moist areas, soil, water, decaying plants and animals, and can even grow when exposed to refrigeration and other food preservation techniques.
- People contract a disease called listeriosis if they consume food contaminated by monocytogenes. In addition, listeriosis may present with various symptoms, which may persist from a few days to weeks.
- The symptoms can start a few hours to two or three days after eating contaminated food. It may take from three days to three months to develop severe forms of the disease. Fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea are mild symptoms. A stiff neck, headache, confusion, convulsions and loss of balance are some severe symptoms of listeriosis. It can even result in death in children, the elderly and those with a weak immune system.
Product Image:
What Regulations Clarifies:
- The cheese should be stored at a proper temperature and refrigerated.
- The manufacturing practices should be based on the FDA regulation [2].