East Tennessee company recalling cheese

Sweetwater Valley Farms of Philadelphia, Tennessee is recalling cheese that could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.Advertisement

According to the Food and Drug Administration, that is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

In a release, the FDA said symptoms may include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria infection has also been known to cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

So far, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the recall.

The FDA release reported that a Tennessee Department of Agriculture sample of the cheese showed the finished product contained the bacteria.

Here is the specific product information from the FDA release:

Southern Cheddar Jack Volunteer Special Cheese, Lot Number 539 was distributed in 7, 10, 15 ounce, and 5 pound blocks and through retail stores in Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, and Alabama. The product was also distributed to 48 contiguous states in gift baskets marketed by the firm?s website.

This product was distributed between September 19, 2006 and November 18, 2007.

Consumers who have purchased lot number 539 of this product are urged discard it or ship it back to the company for a full refund. Contact the company?s consumer affairs department at 1-877-862-4332 for further information.
 

East Tennessee Dairy Farm Recalls Contaminated Cheese

Knoxville (WVLT) – A dairy farm in East Tennessee is recalling a version of its cheddar cheese after it tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, Sweetwater Valley Farms Inc., of Philadelphia will recall its Southern Cheddar Jack Volunteer Special Cheese that was distributed to 48 states between September 19th 2006 and November 18th, 2007.

The cheese is part of Lot Number 539 and was distributed in 7, 10 and 15 ounce blacks and five pound blocks as well as in gift sets.

The recall came about after a routine testing program by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture revealed that their sample contained the bacteria.

No illnesses have been reported, but when something it contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, it can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weak immune systems.

Health people may only suffer from short term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal and diarrhea.

If you have purchased the recalled cheese, you should throw it away or ship it back to the company for a full refund.

You can contact Sweetwater Valley Farms consumer affairs department at 1-877-862-4332 or go to the Hot Key and click on the link to their Website.

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