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Recall -- Firm Press Release

FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.

Mayville Cheese Plant Recalls Spread Cheeses

Contact:
Donna Gilson
608-224-5130

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --Madison, WI -- November 11, 2003 -- Old Fashioned Foods, Mayville, is voluntarily recalling snack cheese spreads and spreadable cream cheese that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, officials at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection announced today.

No illness has been reported to date in connection with the products.

The products were distributed under the brand name Old Fashioned Cheese® to retail stores throughout Wisconsin, in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, and in the Rockford, Ill., area. The various flavored snack cheese spreads are in 8- ounce and 16-ounce plastic containers and code-dated 6X01 May 2005 and 6X02 May 2005. The flavored cream cheeses are in 8-ounce plastic containers and code-dated 2 Nov 04. About 180 cases of the cheese spreads and 45 cases of the cream cheese were distributed.

Consumers can return the products to the store where they bought them.

In healthy individuals, Listeria monocytogenes can cause short-term symptoms including high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. The infection may be more serious or even fatal among young children, frail or elderly people, or others with weakened immune systems. Listeria monocytogenes may cause miscarriage and stillbirth in pregnant women.

The potential contamination was found by Old Fashioned Foods' own testing program, which detected a positive result in one sample. The company has ceased production and distribution of these products while they and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection continue to investigate the cause of the problem.

Consumers may call 1-800-346-0154 for more information.

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