Dairy lovers should check the refrigerator for cream cheese that was sold at Aldi or pre-sliced Tillamook cheese sold at Costco which have both been recalled independently and pulled from shelves.
Details of Tillamook cheese recall from Costco
On June 1, the Oregon-based dairy co-op alerted Costco members who had purchased its twin-pack of Tillamook cheese slices because the company said it “identified a very small quantity of gray and black plastic pieces” that may be present in a limited quantity of its Monterey Jack Cheese.
A recalled package of Tillamook Colby Jack and Tillamook Monterey Jack cheese slices is shown.
Tillamook
The affected products, which had a “Best If Used By” date of October 22, 2024, were sold at Costco locations in the Northwest region and came in a 32 oz. package with Tillamook Monterey Jack and Tillamook Colby Jack cheese slices bearing item number 651195.
Any customers who purchased the product between May 9 and May 31, 2024, received a written letter advising them to “please refrain from consuming it and return the package to your local Costco for a full refund.
“In an abundance of caution and as part of our commitment to product quality and safety at the highest levels, we are voluntarily taking action to remove this product from the marketplace,” the letter stated. “If you have already consumed the product without issue, you do not need to take any action, as the likely presence of the foreign plastic material is very minimal.”
Details of Schreiber Foods cream cheese recalls sold at Aldi, Kroger
In this Dec. 27, 2017 file photo, an Aldi supermarket is seen in High Point, N.C.
Anna Driver/Reuters, FILE
Wisconsin-based dairy company Schreiber Foods Inc. has recalled more cream cheese products as part of an ongoing recall due to potential salmonella contamination.
As of the time of publication, the cream cheese maker has recalled 836,721 units of cream cheese products, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration incident report initiated on May 3.
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Several major food retailers, including Hy Vee, Kroger, and Aldi, distributed and sold the affected cream cheeses.
The recalled products were distributed in California, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. The products were also shipped to Puerto Rico.
A total of eight cream cheese spreads made for various supermarkets and sold under different names are impacted by the recall including Dunkin, Dutch Farms, Happy Farms, Fareway, and Essential Everyday.
Certain cream cheese products sold at Hy-Vee have been voluntarily recalled due to possible salmonella contamination.
FDA
Click here for the complete FDA list of product UPC codes, best by dates and specific label information for the hundreds of products impacted.
A representative for Aldi and Schreiber Foods did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.
Customers who may have purchased the products have been urged by Schreiber Foods to “discard it immediately or return it to their local store for a full refund.”
Potential health impacts, symptoms of salmonella
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most people infected with salmonella experience diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, and symptoms typically begin six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria.
Most people recover without treatment after four to seven days. But some — especially children younger than five years and adults 65 years and older, or people with weakened immune systems — may experience more severe illnesses that require medical treatment or hospitalization, the CDC states.
Tillamook, a popular dairy company known for its high-quality cheese products, has recently expanded its cream cheese recall due to potential contamination concerns. In addition to the cream cheese recall, Tillamook has also issued a recall for cheese slices sold at Costco.
The initial recall of Tillamook’s cream cheese was announced in early October after routine testing revealed the presence of a foreign object in a limited number of containers. The company immediately took action to remove the affected products from shelves and issued a voluntary recall to ensure the safety of consumers.
However, as further testing was conducted, Tillamook discovered that the contamination may have been more widespread than initially thought. As a result, the company has decided to expand the recall to include additional batches of cream cheese with expiration dates ranging from December 28, 2021, to March 31, 2022.
In addition to the cream cheese recall, Tillamook has also issued a separate recall for its cheese slices that were sold at Costco locations. The affected products include Tillamook Farmstyle Cut Shredded Cheese in 2lb bags with a sell-by date of December 5, 2021.
Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled products are advised to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund or dispose of them properly. Tillamook has also set up a dedicated hotline for consumers to call with any questions or concerns regarding the recalls.
It is important for consumers to take these recalls seriously and check their refrigerators and pantries for any potentially contaminated products. Contaminated food can pose serious health risks, especially for vulnerable populations such as young children, elderly individuals, and those with weakened immune systems.
Tillamook has assured consumers that they are taking all necessary steps to address the issue and prevent any further contamination. The company is working closely with regulatory agencies to investigate the source of the contamination and implement measures to prevent future incidents.
In the meantime, consumers are reminded to always practice safe food handling and storage practices to minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses. This includes washing hands before and after handling food, storing perishable items in the refrigerator at the proper temperature, and cooking foods to the recommended internal temperature.
By staying informed and following proper food safety guidelines, consumers can help protect themselves and their families from potential health risks associated with contaminated food products. Tillamook is committed to ensuring the safety and quality of its products and will continue to provide updates on the recalls as more information becomes available.
