Cheeses Sold at Over a Dozen Supermarket Chains Recalled After Listeria Outbreak

Marisa Losciale
·2 min read

Fans of brie and camembert, be advised.

If you've bought brie or camembert recently, don't go cutting the cheese just yet.

A major supplier of the beloved soft cheeses has issued a voluntary recall of its brie and camembert because of potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes–a bacteria that can cause severe illness. 

All Old Europe Brie and Camembert cheeses (a total of over 90 products) with best-by dates through Dec. 14, 2022, are subject to the voluntary recall, according to the official statement. 

The products were distributed from Aug. 01, 2022 through Sept. 28, 2022, and were available at supermarkets, wholesale and retail stores nationwide, and in Mexico. A list of retailers reported having stocked the now-recalled items include Albertsons, Safeway, Meijer, Harding’s, Shaw’s, Price Chopper, Trader Joe's, Market Basket, Raley’s, Save Mart, Giant Foods, Stop & Shop, Fresh Thyme, Target, Lidl, Sprouts, Athenian Foods, and Whole Foods. 

The statement also advised customers who have recently purchased brie or camembert to check its packaging because the stores may have sold the repackaged bulk product in smaller containers that do not bear the Old Europe logo. 

Relabeled products that have been affected by the recall include: 

  • Black Bear 

  • Block and Barrel

  • Charmant

  • Cobblestone

  • Culinary Tour

  • Fredericks

  • Fresh Thyme

  • Glenview Farms

  • Good and Gather

  • Heinen

  • Joan of Arc

  • La Bonne Vie

  • Lidl

  • Life in Provence

  • Market 32

  • Matrie 'D

  • Metropolitan 

  • Prestige

  • Primo Taglio

  • Red Apple

  • Reny Picot

  • St. Randeaux

  • Taste of Inspiration

  • Trader Joe's

As of writing, there have not been any confirmed reports of illness or adverse reactions from eating the products. However, the FSIS still urges anyone who bought the affected items to throw them out or return them to where they were purchased.

According to the FDA, consuming food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a severe infection primarily affecting older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, pregnant people, and their newborns.

Listeriosis can cause common food poisoning symptoms (fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, gastrointestinal upset) and lead to more severe complications in the case of invasive infection.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates around 1,600 people become ill with listeriosis every year, resulting in about 260 deaths. It is most likely to sicken pregnant women and their newborns, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems.

For a complete list of the items, including UPC codes and full product labels, visit the USDA’s website.

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