Contaminated Cheese Recall including Meijer Brand Sold at Its Deli Counters

Categories: Food Safety and Recalls

On Friday, the FDA reported that Meijer was recalling Meijer Brand Colby and Colby Jack Deli Cheese sold exclusively through its deli counters from November 10, 2016 to February 9, 2017 due to a potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. While some individuals may suffer short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, a Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths among pregnant women, and complications in the frail, elderly,or individuals with health issues or weakened immune systems.  The warning states:

Meijer received notice of a possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination from MDS Foods, a Meijer supplier that sources the Meijer branded cheeses from Deutsch Kase Haus, a cheese manufacturer based in Middlebury, Indiana. MDS Foods informed Meijer that evidence of potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination had been identified by the manufacturer.

The recalled product will be in plastic deli packaging with printed labels that have the UPCs 215927xxxxxx or 215938xxxxxx – the last 6 digits will vary, and are determined by weight since the product was purchased at the deli counter.

The next day on February 11, 2017, MDS Foods, Inc. (who supplied the cheese to Meijer and also sold other cheese products being recalled) also issued a recall warning posted by the FDA stating:

MDS Foods Inc., of Massillon, OH is recalling multiple products some of which were found to be contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes and other products which may have the potential to be contaminated with the bacteria.

 Deutsch Kase Haus, LLC of Middlebury, Indiana, supplied MDS Foods with Colby and Colby Jack minihorn cheeses that have been found to be contaminated with the pathogenic organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.***

Affected and potentially affected products were distributed by MDS Foods Inc. under multiple brand labels and distributed nationwide. Please refer to the list below.

Cheese products being recalled due to found contamination from cheese supplier

MDS Foods
Item #
Brand Description Product Size Piece UPC Code Case UPC Code Date Code
55209 Amish
Classics
Colby Deli (Mini) Horn 6 lb 8 28653 552093 00 8 28653 55209 3 Sell by: May 17, 2017
55241 Amish
Classics
Colby RW Fullmoon Approx. 8 oz 8 28653 55241 3 00 8 28653 55241 3 Best if used by:
07/10/17

7/4/2017

6/4/2017

5/19/2017

55245 Amish
Classics
Colby EW Fullmoon 8 oz 8 28653 55245 1 00 8 28653 55245 1 Best if used by:

7/10/2017

7/4/2017

6/3/2017

5/19/2017

55831 Deli
Readi
Colby Mini
Cheese Slices
2 lb pack 6 34660 62859 7 00 6 34660 62859 7 Best if used by:
05/02/2017

4/22/2017

55553 Deli
Made EZ
Colby Cheese
Slices
1.5 lb pack 8 28653 55554 4 00 8 28653 55553 7 335-16
18755 Meijer Colby Jack Mini
Horn
6 lb 710917 18755 7 10917 18755 Sell by Date:
05/02/17
55755 Meijer Colby Mini Horn 6 lb 710917 55755 7 10917 55755 Sell by Date:
05/02/17

Cheese products being recalled due to potential contamination

MDS Foods Item # Brand Description Product
Size
Piece UPC Code Case UPC Code Date Code
55244 Amish
Classics
Colby RW
Halfmoon
Approx.
8 oz
N/A 0 08 28653 55244 4 Best if used by:
07/10/2017
55758 Meijer Colby EW Halfmoon 8 oz 7 13733 34047 2 0 07 13733 34047 2 Best if used by:
07/10/2017
18244 Amish
Classics
Colby Jack RW Halfmoon Approx.
8 oz
N/A 00828653182443 Best if used by:
07/10/2017
18758 Meijer Colby Jack
EW Halfmoon Chunk
8 oz 713733340588 00713733340588 Best if used by:
07/10/2017
18241 Amish
Classics
Colby Jack
RW Fullmoon
Approx.
8 oz
N/A 0 08 28653 18241 2 Best if used by:
07/10/2017
18245 Amish
Classics
Colby Jack
EW Fullmoon
8 oz 828653182450 00828653182450 Best if used by:
07/10/2017
28245 Amish
Classics
Cheddar
EW Fullmoon
8 oz 828653282457 00828653282457 Best if used by:
07/10/2017
07/04/2017
73705 Lipari Old
Tyme
Swiss
Sandwich
Cut
Approx
8.5 lbs
N/A 00828653737056 Best if used by:
07/04/2017
10241 Amish
Classics
Jalapeno RW Fullmoon Approx.
8 oz
N/A 0 08 28653 10241 0 Best if used by:
07/04/2017
10245 Amish
Classics
Jalapeno
EW Fullmoon
8 oz 828653102458 00828653102458 Best if used by:
07/04/2017
18830 Deli Readi Colby Jack
St Pk 1oz Halfmoon Slice
1 lb 6 34660 62875 7 006 34660 62875 7 Best if used by:
05/02/2017
10831 Deli Readi Jalapeno St
Pk 1oz Slice
2 lb pack 6 34660 62878 8 0 06 34660 62878 8 Best if used by:
04/22/2017
26831 Deli Readi Hot Pepper St Pk 1oz Slice 2 lb pack 6 34660 62868 9 0 06 34660 62868 9 Best if used by:
04/22/2017
26555 Deli
Made EZ
Hot Pepper
St Pk .5oz
Slice
1.5 lb
pack
8 28653 26555 9 0 08 28653 26555 9 Best if used by:
04/22/2017
28747 Duck Deli Cheddar St
Pk .75oz
Slice
1.5 lb
pack
8 28653 28747 6 0 08 28653 28747 6 Production Date:
358-16
28545 Deli
Made EZ
Cheddar St Pk .75oz Slice 2.0 lb pack 8 28653 28545 8 0 08 28653 28545 8 Best if used by:
04/22/2017
28555 Deli
Made EZ
Ched Mild Stk Pk .5oz Slice 1.5 lb pack 8 28653 28555 7 0 08 28653 28555 7 Best if used by:
04/22/2017
55830 Deli Readi Colby St Pk
1oz
Halfmoon
Slices
1.0 lb pack 6 34660 62872 6 0 06 34660 62872 6 Best if used by:
04/22/2017
55703 Old Tyme Colby EW Halfmoon 8 oz 0 94776 10227 3 0 00 41563 26105 7 Best if used by:
06/03/2017
10555 Deli
Made EZ
Jalapeno
Jack St Pk
.5oz Slice
1.5 lb
pack
8 28653 10555 8 0 08 28653 10555 8 Best if used by:
03/30/2017

 

How We Can Help:

If you or someone you love has consumed one of these cheese products and suffered illness, you should be aware of this recall and the FDA safety announcement.

Attorney Pamela A. Borgess, the founder of Borgess Law, LLC, has successfully represented multiple clients who have sustained serious injury or whose loved ones have died as a result of defective or recalled products, including contaminated food products. Attorney Borgess will happy to discuss your legal options. For more information about the recall or safety alert, or to discuss a potential claim, contact Borgess Law at (567) 455-5955 or toll-free at (844) LAW-9144. You can also contact Borgess Law by submitting an online inquiry. Borgess Law never charges for initial consultations.  We welcome any questions you may have.