Tomales Bay Foods Recalls Artisan Cheese for Listeria Risk
Tomales Bay Foods is recalling specific artisan cheese varieties due to a positive environmental test for Listeria monocytogenes.
The agency’s classification
FDA (Food): Class II
Class II is a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.
This is the agency’s own classification, taken from its notice. The severity score below is our assessment, not the agency’s. How recall classes work
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).
Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.
Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a high-risk pathogen (Listeria monocytogenes) without reported illness, which corresponds to a score of 3 per the rubric.
Plain-English summary
Tomales Bay Foods, Inc. is recalling specific varieties of Artisan Cheese in partial wheels. The recalled products include cheeses from makers in the United States and several European countries, such as Appalachian, Coolea, and Big Rock Blue. The cheese is cut per order, wrapped in cheese paper, and marked with a magic marker indicating the type, poundage, and pack date, along with a Tomales Bay Foods label. There are no code numbers or expiration dates marked on the product.
The recall was initiated after the firm received a positive environmental test for Listeria monocytogenes from their internal testing samples. The source text does not report any illnesses or injuries associated with this recall.
The original recall quantity was 562.74 pounds, with specific amounts of Pondhopper and Big Woods Blue also noted. Distribution occurred in California, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, Oregon, Utah, and several European countries. A second part of the distribution occurred between June 25, 2012, and July 27, 2012, in California, North Carolina, and Florida. All product was cut and wrapped on July 24 and 25, 2012. Consumers should check their inventory for these specific cheeses and follow the firm's instructions for disposal or return.
The recalled product
- Product
- Tomales Bay Foods brand Artisan Cheese in PARTIAL WHEELS of Cheese, from cheese makers in US (VA, VT, Ca, WI, OR, WA and UT) and Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, France, Holland and Greece. Varieties include Appalachian, Coolea, Cabot clothbound Cheddar, Big Rock Blue, Goat…
- Manufacturer
- Tomales Bay Foods, Inc.
- Category
- Food — Cheese
- Hazard
Is your product affected?
Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.
Lot numbers (2)
- All product cut and wrapped on July 24 and 25
- 2012.
Distribution
Part of a larger recall action
This product is one of 3 recalled by Tomales Bay Foods, Inc. under a single FDA (Food) recall action. The agency files each product separately, so the size of the action is not visible from this page alone.
See all 3 products in this recall →Related recalls
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