This week, the FDA has announced additional recalls, focusing on cheeses and vegetables that may pose health risks due to the presence of harmful bacteria and an undeclared allergen. These recalls underscore the ongoing vigilance required to ensure food safety.

One of the affected products is an 8-ounce Mild Cheddar Cheese from Boss Dairy Farms, specifically under the Charlevoix Cheese Company label. This batch has raised alarms due to potential contamination with Listeria, a bacterium known for its severe health implications.

While many healthy individuals may only experience mild symptoms such as fever, headaches, nausea, and diarrhea when exposed to Listeria, the stakes are significantly higher for vulnerable groups. Those who are immunocompromised, elderly, or pregnant face a heightened risk, with potential outcomes including severe illness, stillbirth, or miscarriage.

The recalled cheese is packaged in an 8-ounce block, encased in clear plastic. Consumers can identify the specific batch by its UPC code 850056642057, lot number 13220025, and a best by date of October 20, 2026, clearly printed on the packaging.

The recalled cheese comes in an 8oz block in clear plastic packaging with the UPC 850056642057. 

It is marked on the back with lot number 13220025 and has a best by date of October 20, 2026. 

It is not known how the cheese was exposed to listeria, but the potential contamination was revealed after routine testing by the company. 

The FDA is urging people who bought the cheese to ‘destroy’ it or return it to the store for a full refund.  

The recalled cheese was distributed in retail locations in Michigan and no illnesses have been reported in connection to the recall (stock image)

The cheese was distributed to retail locations in Michigan and no illnesses have been reported in connection to the recall. 

Listeria infects about 1,250 people in the US every year, estimates suggest.

It is a serious infection, with an estimated 1,000 patients hospitalized and about 170 dying from the disease every year.

It is a particularly serious infection among children under five and older adults, who have weaker immune systems and are less able to fight off the infection.

It is also serious for pregnant women, with a listeria infection raising the risk of them suffering from a stillbirth or miscarriage.

Symptoms start within 24 hours of infection and, in healthy individuals, typically last for one to three days. Warning signs include fever, flu-like symptoms such as muscle aches or fatigue, diarrhea and vomiting.

In serious cases, however, the bacteria can spread into the bloodstream and cause the life-threatening complication sepsis.

Doctors typically treat such infections with antibiotics.

In a second recall, A.S.K. Foods, LLC in Pennsylvania is recalling select 32oz containers of Publix Rice & Pigeon Peas because it contains undeclared soy, which could pose a life-threatening risk of an allergic reaction. 

Boss Dairy Farms is recalling one lot of its Charlevoix Cheese Company 8oz Mild Cheddar Cheese because it has the potential to be contaminated with listeria

In a second recall, A.S.K. Foods, LLC in Pennsylvania is recalling select 32oz containers of Publix Rice & Pigeon Peas because it contains undeclared soy

The recalled products were only sold in Publix stores in Florida and no illnesses have been reported to date. 

The recalled Publix Rice & Pigeon Peas was packaged in a plastic tray where the top label indicates Publix Rice & Pigeon Peas, Net Wt. 32 OZ (2 LB) 907, the bottom label has Cavatappi Pasta as the first ingredient and has a code on the lid of ‘5387-4’, ‘5387-5’ or ‘5387-6.’

The FDA recall notice states the pasta product was packaged in a container that had an ingredient label intended for the company’s Three Cheese Mac & Cheese.

That label does not have soy listed on it, but the allergen is present in the pasta and peas product. 

For the nearly 2 million Americans allergic to soy, if they eat the product, they could experience mild symptoms such as hives and itching or life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis is a severe, rapid potentially fatal allergic reaction that causes the throat to swell, vomiting, dizziness and difficulty breathing.

The FDA is urging consumers who bought the product to return it to the store for a full refund.