Whole Foods Market announces that it is recalling Crave Brothers Les Frères cheese in response to a recall by the Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese Company of Waterloo, Wisconsin. The cheese is being recalled because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, 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. To date, one illness and one death have been reported. Crave Brothers was informed by regulatory agencies of an ongoing investigation related to potential health risks associated with Listeria monocytogenes. The company immediately ceased the production and distribution of the products.

The recalled Crave Brothers Les Frères cheese was cut and packaged in clear plastic wrap and sold with Whole Foods Market scale labels. Below is a list of how the cheese was labeled, including PLU code, according to the state in which it was sold.

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 $600 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 cantaloupe, cheese, celery and milk. Marler Clark is presently representing 44 victims and their families in the 2011 Jensen Farms Listeria cantaloupe outbreak and 2 women, one who lost her child in the 2012 Marte brand Frescolina ricotta salata cheese Listeria outbreak.

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.

The CDC reported today that a total of five persons infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from four states.  The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Minnesota (2), and Ohio (1).  All five ill persons were hospitalized. One death was reported in Minnesota. One illness in a pregnant woman resulted in a miscarriage.

A collaborative investigation by local and state public health and regulatory agencies, CDC, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration indicates that Les Frères, Petit Frère, and Petit Frère with Truffles cheeses made by Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese Company is the likely source of this outbreak.  On July 3, 2013, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese Company of Waterloo, Wisconsin voluntarily recalled its Les Frères, Petit Frère, and Petit Frère with Truffles cheeses with make dates of July 1, 2013 or earlier due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.  The recalled cheeses were distributed nationwide through retail and foodservice outlets as well as by mail orders.

Les Freres cheese is distributed by Crave Brothers Farmstead Classics, a Wisconsin producer.  Crave Brothers cheese is sold at some of the Midwest restaurants, including Girl and the Goat in Chicago, Wild Rice in Bayfield, Wisconsin, and Butcher and the Boar in Minneapolis. In the Twin Cities, it is also sold at grocery stores such as Lunds, Byerly’s and Kowalski’s.  The products were distributed nationwide through retail and foodservice outlets as well as by mail orders.  The following products have been recalled:

• Les Freres (LF225 2/2.5#) with a make date of 7-1-13 or prior, packaged in white plastic with a green and gold label.
• Petit Frere (PF88 8/8 oz.) with a make date of 7-1-13 or prior, packaged in small round wooden boxes.
• Petit Frere with Truffles (PF88T 8/8 oz.) with a make date of 7-1-13 or prior, packaged in small round wooden boxes.

According to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), two older adults in Minnesota got sick in early June after eating the cheese, and one later died.

The outbreak has sickened at least four others in three states, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  In addition to Minnesota, the other states involved are Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.  One of the cases was a pregnant woman who suffered a miscarriage.

All of those sickened were infected with the same strain of listeriosis, the FDA said.

The public warning issued on April 3, 2013 has been expanded to include additional products because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Previously identified products included in this recall can be found on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Central-Epicure Food Products Ltd. are warning the public not to consume the Central-Epicure brand Smoked Atlantic Salmon products described below because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Consumers who may have purchased Smoked Atlantic Salmon from these locations, and are unsure if they have the affected product, are advised to check with the store to determine if their product is being recalled.

These products are distributed in Ontario.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

The manufacturer, Central-Epicure Food Products Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.