Cheese Sold at Aldi and Other Retailers Were Recalled Over Listeria Fears

If you’ve recently purchased soft-ripened cheeses, it’s time to check your fridge. 

On November 2, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a voluntary recall for products by Savencia Cheese USA, including “select soft-ripened cheeses” manufactured in its Lena, Illinois manufacturing facility, “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.” 

The recall affects a number of popular grocery store chains, including Aldi and Market Basket, a supermarket chain that operates in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. All the recalled products come with the “best buy date” of December 24, 2024. These cheeses were named as part of the recall: 

• Aldi Emporium Selection Brie, 12/8 ounce Brie
• La Bonne Vie Brie, 6/8 ounce
• La Bonne Vie Camembert, 6/8 ounce
• Industrial Brie 12/8 ounce
• Market Basket Brie 6/8 ounce
• Supreme Oval 7 ounce, 6/7 ounce

The 12 states impacted are: Indiana, Missouri, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Texas, Iowa, New Jersey, California, Oregon, Colorado, Washington, and Illinois.

According to the FDA announcement, “You can identify these products by reviewing the UPC and the best buy date on the product labels. These products had limited regional distribution in the United States.” It importantly added that the “few retailers that received the product have been informed of this possible contamination and are in the process of removing products from shelves.”

Additionally, there have been no confirmed reports of adverse health events due to consumption of the recalled products. 

Any consumers who have purchased these recalled products should “refrain from consuming them and return them to their place of purchase for a full refund,” the FDA added. And consumers with questions can reach out to Savencia Cheese’s consumer relations at 800-322-2743 or email sc.customer.service@savencia.com. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Listeria bacteria “can cause an infection called listeriosis.” The symptoms can depend on each individual and which body part it affects. It noted, “Listeria are most likely to harm pregnant people, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Other people can be infected with Listeria, but they rarely become seriously ill.”

Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches and fatigue, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures. The CDC added, “Symptoms of intestinal illness usually start within 24 hours after eating food contaminated with Listeria and usually last 1–3 days.” The organization also noted that “Listeria infection is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States.”