Oregon Cheese Producer Issues Voluntary Recall Over Listeria Contamination
A popular cheese brand in the United States has been forced to pull one of its products from the market due to a potentially serious health risk. Face Rock Creamery LLC has initiated a voluntary recall for its Vampire Slayer Garlic Cheddar after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discovered the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the packaging area.
Key Details of the Affected Product
The recall is highly specific, concerning only 16 units of the six-ounce cheese blocks. These were sold exclusively at the company's flagship store located at 680 2nd St. SE, Bandon, Oregon. The cheese was available for purchase during a precise window: from November 10 at 3:30 pm PT until November 13 at 3:30 pm PT.
Customers can identify the recalled product by its UPC code: 8 512222 00547 8. Fortunately, no illnesses have been reported in connection with this batch. However, the FDA and the company strongly advise anyone who has purchased the affected cheese to either destroy it immediately or return it to the store for a full refund.
Understanding the Listeria Threat
Listeria is a dangerous bacteria known to contaminate a wide variety of foods. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infection with Listeria monocytogenes can lead to severe, invasive illness. For healthy individuals, short-term symptoms are often severe and can include:
- High fever
- Severe headache
- Stiffness
- Nausea and abdominal pain
This pathogen is a major public health concern, being the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States, responsible for approximately 260 fatalities each year.
A Pattern of Food Safety Recalls
This cheese recall is not an isolated incident. It follows other significant food safety actions in recent weeks. Earlier in November, Moonlight Companies recalled yellow and white peaches grown in California and sold nationwide after Listeria was detected in the packing facility. These peaches were available at major retailers like Kroger, Sprouts, Food Lion, and Trader Joe's.
Prior to that, a listeria outbreak linked to precooked pasta products from Nate's Fine Foods of Roseville, California, had tragic consequences. That recall of nearly 245,000 pounds of pasta was connected to six deaths and 27 reported illnesses as of November 1. These consecutive events highlight ongoing challenges in food production safety and the critical importance of rigorous monitoring and swift recall processes to protect consumers.
