Sargento Just Recalled Cheese Across 15 States Because of Listeria

Many of us already know about the nationwide dairy recall that occurred at the beginning of this year that included items like cheese, yogurt, and sour cream, leading to a growing number of cases of sickness along with two deaths. (The recall even included a handful of Trader Joe’s products, plus dairy products included in premade meals from Costco, Albertsons, and Safeway.) However, the recalls haven’t stopped as Sargento Foods, Inc. of Plymouth, Wisconsin, just announced that certain shredded, packaged, and grated cheese products are being recalled due to potential Listeria contamination.

So far, it has been noted that the recalled products were distributed in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Even if you don’t reside in one of these states, you might want to proceed with caution when it comes to Sargento cheese products.

The list of recalled cheeses includes Cotija cheese, Parmesan cheese, Swiss cheese, Asiago cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, queso quesadilla cheese, white cheddar cheese, and cheddar cheese, plus bistro and Italian cheese blends. 

If you happen to have one of these cheeses in your fridge and live in one of the states where items could be contaminated, you should throw it away immediately or return the cheese to its place of purchase for a full refund. Even if the cheese looks and smells okay, the cheese may cause life-threatening illness if it happens to be contaminated.

Mild symptoms of listeria include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Listeria can be particularly detrimental for children, people who are pregnant, the elderly, and those who are immunocompromised. It can take up to 70 days from exposure to experience any symptoms, so if you believe you accidentally ate contaminated products, monitor yourself closely and speak with a medical professional.