HOUSTON – Whole Foods Market Inc. is recalling Crave Brothers Les Freres cheese in response to an outbreak of a bacterial infection that has sickened people in several states and killed at least one person.
Whole Foods says the cheese may be contaminated with Listeria It was sold in 30 states including Texas.
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The cheese was cut and packaged in clear plastic wrap and sold with Whole Foods Market scale labels. The company is posting signs in its stores to inform customers about the recall.
The Whole Foods on 701 Waugh Drive said they have pulled the cheese off the shelves and destroyed it. They also said that they are selling other products by Crave Brothers but the cheese is not one of them.
Listeria can lead to severe illness for women who are pregnant or people who have weakened immune systems. In healthy individuals, it can cause symptoms including high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Crave Brothers is based in Waterloo, Wis. The company announced a voluntary recall of Les Freres, Petit Frere, and Petit Frere with Truffles cheese made on July 1 or earlier. It said the cheeses were distributed around the country through retail and food service outlets and mail order.
Whole Foods said customers should throw the cheese away and bring in their receipts for a full refund.