Swiss American Inc. has become the third company this week to recall cheese products because of possible contamination. The St. Louis-based company is recalling Bench Cured Hoop Cheddar because the cheese may be contaminated with listeria. The bacteria can cause life-threatening infections in children, seniors and people with weak immune systems.
Listeria can also cause miscarriages or stillbirths, even if the expectant mother feels no symptoms.
No illnesses have been reported thus far, Swiss American said. The cheese was produced for Swiss America by Wisconsin Hill and Valley Cheese Co. in Cashton, Wisc. Regulators' sampling of cheese produced at the plant revealed the presence of listeria monocytogenes. Swiss American was informed about the contamination on Nov. 3 and voluntarily stopped shipping the questionable cheeses. The products are sold at all Spartan retail stores and hundreds of stores that Spartan supplies in Michigan.