Bravo Farms has recalled all of its cheese following an outbreak of listeria in the US linked to the firm’s Dutch-style raw milk Gouda cheese sold in Costco stores.
Costco issued an alert to consumers yesterday (25 November), warning of an outbreak of E.coli in five states: Colorado, New Mexico, California, Arizona and Nevada. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 25 cases of people infected with the outbreak strain have been reported.
Dates of onset of the illnesses coincide with the same time period cheeses were offered for promotion and sale at Costco Warehouses within this geographic area, the wholesaler said. The cheeses were sampled at a cheese road show held at Costco stores between 5 October and 1 November.
Costco is advising consumers not to eat cheeses manufactured by Bravo Farms with the Item No: 40654 and to return them for a full refund.
Bravo Farms said it was “deeply saddened” by the outbreak and that the firm was “taking this very seriously”.
“We’ve never chosen profits over our customers, and will continue to make decisions based on your safety not the safety of the company,” it said. “We are working to be certain our cheeses are completely safe, and to identify the cause of this tragedy. We pray that God gives us wisdom to make the best decisions on locating the source, and to also keep anyone else from becoming ill.”
