Tomales Bay Foods brand Artisan Cheese in PARTIAL WHEELS of Cheese, from ch...

FDA Recall #F-1985-2012 — Class II — July 28, 2012

Recall Summary

Recall NumberF-1985-2012
Date InitiatedJuly 28, 2012
ClassificationClass II
StatusTerminated
TypeVoluntary: Firm initiated
Product TypeFood

Recalling Firm

FirmTomales Bay Foods, Inc.
LocationPetaluma, CA

Product Description

Tomales Bay Foods brand Artisan Cheese in PARTIAL WHEELS of Cheese, from cheese makers in US (VA, VT, Ca, WI, OR, WA and UT) and Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, France, Holland and Greece. Varieties include Appalachian, Coolea, Cabot clothbound Cheddar, Big Rock Blue, Goat Gouda, Holey Cow, Big Woods Blue, Fiore Sardo,, Valdeon, Pecorino Romano, Sottocenere, Capriago, Capricious, Cave Aged Gruyere, Cave Aged Marisa, Fenacho, Pondhopper, Comte, L'Amuse Signature Gouda, Dante Waxed Rind, Dry Jack Special Reserve, Mezzo Secco, Extra Mature Bandage Cheddar, San Joaquin Gold, Flagship Reserve Truckle, Fontina Vallet Pietro, Grana Padano, Parmigiano Reggiano Organic, Taleggio Organic, Comte Reserve Ete, Loma Alta, Mt. Viko Barrel Aged Feta, Pepato, San Andreas Bellwether Farms, Reading, Tarentaise, Seahive, St. George, Toma and Wagon Wheel. Cheese is cut per order and wrapped in cheese paper and marked with a magic marker indicating the type of cheese, poundage and pack date as well as a Tomales Bay Foods label. There are no code numbers or expiration dates marked on the product.

Reason for Recall

Firm received a positive environmental for Listeria Monocytogenes from their internal testing samples.

Classification

Class II — A situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.

Distribution Pattern

Part One: CA, VA, VT, WI, OR, UT and Italy, Spain, Switzerland, France, Holland, Greece. Part Two: Dates of Distribution: 6/2512 - 7/27/12 Pattern: CA, NC, FL

Product Quantity

562.74 pounds original recall, 101.1 pounds of Pondhopper and 31.41 pounds of Big Woods Blue

Product Codes / Lot Numbers

All product cut and wrapped on July 24 and 25, 2012.

What Should You Do?

Stop consuming this product immediately. Check your home for the recalled item and dispose of it safely. If you experienced a health issue after consuming this product, contact your doctor and report it to the FDA MedWatch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Stop consuming the product immediately and do not donate or give it to others. Check the recall notice above for specific disposal or return instructions. Many food recalls ask you to throw the product away and retain the packaging for a possible refund from the retailer. If you purchased it online, check your order history — some retailers send recall notifications directly to customers. You do not need a receipt to report an issue or seek a refund; the fact of purchase is typically sufficient.

Listeria monocytogenes is one of the most serious foodborne pathogens. Unlike most bacteria, Listeria can grow at refrigerator temperatures (below 40°F), meaning refrigerating a contaminated product does not stop the risk. Symptoms can appear 1 to 4 weeks after eating contaminated food and may include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, and loss of balance. Listeriosis is particularly dangerous for pregnant women — infection can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature delivery. If you consumed this recalled product and are in a high-risk group (pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised), contact your doctor immediately even if you feel well.

Report foodborne illnesses and adverse food reactions to the FDA through the MedWatch Safety Reporting Portal at FDA.gov, or by calling 1-800-332-1088. You can also report issues directly to the FDA's Safety Reporting Portal at SafetyReporting.hhs.gov. If you believe there is an immediate public health risk, contact your local health department. Your report helps the FDA identify contamination patterns, initiate recalls faster, and protect other consumers from the same hazard. Include as much detail as possible: the product name, lot code, purchase date and location, and a description of your symptoms or findings.

The FDA assigns a status to each recall action throughout its lifecycle. "Ongoing" means the recall is active — the firm is still working to remove the product from commerce and notify consumers. "Completed" means the recall strategy has been implemented and the FDA has determined that the recalling firm has taken all appropriate steps to remove the product. "Terminated" means the FDA has reviewed the results and concluded the recall is complete. Even if a recall is marked as completed or terminated, you should still discard any recalled products you find at home — the recall status refers to the firm's compliance actions, not the safety of product still in consumers' possession.