Sprout Creek Farm of Poughkeepsie, New York is recalling 4 wheels of “Kinkead” cheese made on 5-10-18, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

No illnesses have been reported to date. Any consumer with the product should dispose of it immediately. Sprout Creek Farm has been in contact with distributors and markets to immediately remove this batch of “Kinkead” cheese from their shelves.

The recalled batch of “Kinkead” cheese was distributed to the following locations, which have all been notified of the recall and instructed to dispose of the cheese:

“Kinkead” is a raw semi-firm, washed natural rind cheese, packaged with an orange label. Some of the distributed cheese was cut and sold by weight within the stores listed.

The issue was discovered as Sprout Creek Farm was taking proactive measures as part of determining the root cause of the Listeria monocytogenes contamination discovered during routine testing earlier this month. In conducting a thorough review, Sprout Creek Farm determined that Listeria monocytogenes may have been present in the environment. In line with Sprout Creek’s mission of providing healthy, sustainable food, all cheese in the farm’s aging caves is being tested to ensure its safety. No new cheese will be produced until a complete review and overhaul of creamery facilities, procedures, and standing practices are complete.

Sprout Creek Farm voluntarily ceased all production of cheese immediately following that recall initiated on November 6.  Additionally since the November 6 recall, there has been no production or distribution of any cheese by the farm. The 5-10-2018 “Kinkead” cheese was distributed prior to the November 6 recall.

Routine samples of the Green Cedar Ackawi cheese collected and tested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development tested positive for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

The following product has been recalled:

Green Cedar Ackawi cheese in small clear plastic shrink wrapped packaging (see images below) bearing a “sell by” date of March 26, 2019 or later. The “sell by” date is on a white sticker on the back of the product.

Consumption of food contaminated with listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious and sometimes fatal infection that primarily affects young children, older adults, and persons with weakened immune systems. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups may be affected. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeriosis can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

This issue was discovered on November 9, 2018 during a routine inspection by the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, Food & Dairy Division (MDARD) and by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This product was distributed at retail locations East Dearborn and Dearborn Heights Michigan. There have been no reports of adverse health impacts or reactions related to the consumption of this product to date.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them.

The Pictsweet Company has recalled 1,872 cases of Pictsweet Farms 8-ounce Steam’ables Asparagus Spears because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The recall affects only Pictsweet Farms 8-ounce Steam’ables Asparagus Spears identified by UPC code 0 70560 97799 9 with production codes beginning with the following six digits: 2138XD and a “BEST BY AUG 1, 2020.” A photo of the package is included with this release. The following information is printed on the back panel of each package (bag) as shown below.

2138XD PROD OF USA
BEST BY AUG 01 2020

No illnesses have been reported to date and no other Pictsweet Farms products are impacted by this recall.

The states in which the product was distributed are as follows: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

The company initiated this recall after it was notified by the manufacturer that product suspected of containing Listeria monocytogenes was inadvertently shipped to The Pictsweet Company.

Ruck’s Meat Processing of Belle Plaine, Minnesota, is voluntarily recalling a variety of sausage products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes. During routine sampling, Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) inspectors discovered the product was processed in a manner that could result in possible Listeria contamination.

The MDA and the company have not received any reports of adverse reactions or illness due to consumption of this product.

Ruck’s Meat Processing sausage products subject to this recall bear the establishment number “8921” inside the State of Minnesota mark of inspection, and a date of 10-26-2018 on the label. The following sausage products are subject to the recall:

Ring Bologna – sold from Ruck’s Processing retail store in Belle Plaine, and sold to Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store in Jordan, Minnesota

Ruck’s Meat Processing also produced sausage products under the label brand name of Tollefson Family Pork.

The following Tollefson Family Pork products were sold at the Minneapolis Farmer’s Market and are also subject to the recall:

Polish Sausage

Rex Smoked Breakfast Sausage

Smoked Breakfast Sausage

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially serious disease marked by fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis, but it can sometimes cause fatal infections in infants, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis can also lead to miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.

Sprout Creek Farm of Poughkeepsie, New York is recalling 132 wheels of “Margie” cheese, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The recalled batch of Margie cheese, consisting of 132 wheels, was distributed to the following locations, which have all been notified of the recall and instructed to dispose of the cheese:

Margie cheese is a soft, white rind, cow’s milk cheese. It is packaged with a green round label, wrapped in white milk paper in one pound wheels. The cheese being recalled can be identified with the lot number make date of 10-9-18 and best by dates of 12-9-18.

The recall was the result of a routine US Food and Drug Administration inspection of Sprout Creek Farm’s cheese production facility. During the inspection samples were sent to a FDA Lab for testing and Listeria monocytogenes was found in the product.

Sprout Creek Farm is working with the FDA to determine the root cause of the problem.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

Listeria:  Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of Listeria outbreaks. The Listeria lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of Listeria and other foodborne illness outbreaks and have recovered over $650 million for clients.  Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our Listeria lawyers have litigated Listeria cases stemming from outbreaks traced to a variety of foods, such as deli meat, cantaloupe, cheese, celery and milk.

If you or a family member became ill with a Listeria infection after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark Listeria attorneys for a free case evaluation.