Cheese Recalled for Possible Listeria
Smith's Country Cheese recalled waxed Gouda wheels for possible listeria contamination.
Smith's Country Cheese, based in Winchendon, Mass., has recalled 21 waxed Gouda wheels because of potential listeria contamination, according to a report from the FDA. The wheels of cheese were distributed in Massachusetts by wholesale distributors and then sold to retail stores.
FDA reported that the wheels "are coated in red wax and wrapped in saran wrap with various weights of whole wheels at 10 lbs and half wheels at 5 lbs. May have been cut and packaged at retail level for consumer size units. There are labels on the front that read Smith's Farmstead Gouda for whole wheels and Mountain Gouda for half wheels. On the back of the wheel there is a weight label with a julian date in the lower right hand corner that reads 4037."
The recall occurred after routine sampling from the FDA showed the finished products contained listeria bacteria. No illnesses have been reported to date.