By 
Whole Foods has issued a nationwide recall of a popular blue cheese after testing found listeria contamination, the company announced Tuesday. Maytag Raw Milk Blue Cheese is also sold through wholesalers, distributors, restaurants, and direct mail orders, and the dairy has expanded its own voluntary recall.
The listeria was found after Iowa testers found Listeria monocytogenes in two lots of cheese. The company has voluntarily suspended production and distribution until they work with regulators to figure out where the contamination came from. No illnesses have been reported from consuming the cheese. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, listeriosis typically causes a fever, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal symptoms. But it can be extremely dangerous for older adults, pregnant women, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems. This is especially concerning because the grocery chain recalled another type of blue cheese, Papillon Roquefort Organic, also for listeria contamination back in October.
At Whole Foods, the product was sold in cheese cases and packaged in clear plastic with labels reading "Maytag Blue Raw Milk," "Maytag Blue," or "Maytag Iowa Blue Cheese." Affected cheese had sell-by dates of January 20 and March 12, 2016 and PLU codes beginning with 293308.
The Food and Drug Administration has more information on the recalled products if you didn't buy them at Whole Foods. Here's how the products look when sold elsewhere:
If you bought any of the affected cheese, you should throw it away and bring your receipt to the store for a full refund. You can also call Whole Foods at 512-477-5566, extension 20060, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central. Overall, the affected product was sold between November 24, 2015 and February 11, 2016. If you bought your cheese from somewhere other than Whole Foods, you can call Maytag Dairy Farms at at 800-247-2458 or 641-791-2010 Monday – Friday 9AM-5PM CST to arrange for a refund.
Follow Delish on Instagram.
