Cheese Recall Update As E.coli Warning Issued for Separate Product

A creamery in Wisconsin has issued a voluntary recall for its cheese curd products after a batch was found to potentially be contaminated with generic E. coli, a potentially harmful bacterium that can cause serious illness.

The Westby Cooperative Creamery initiated the recall on September 29 and it is ongoing. It affects cheese curds sold under the Westby brand across the state of Wisconsin.

Newsweek contacted The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and Westby Cooperative Creamery on Monday via email for comment.

In October, following the fatal E.coli outbreak linked to McDonald's burgers across 10 states, Newsweek spoke to Natalie Stanton, a chartered environmental health officer and founder of The Safety Expert in the United Kingdom, to find out more about E. coli and its symptoms.

Cheese curds are put into forms to make 40 pounds blocks of cheese at a cheese cellar in Theresa, Wisconsin. A cheese curd product has been recalled by a creamery in the state due to... Scott Olson/Getty Images

"Many strains of E. coli are harmless to humans; others can cause food poisoning," Stanton told Newsweek. "E. coliO157—the one that appears to be implicated in the U.S. connected with McDonald's burgers—is a particularly nasty strain that can cause food poisoning."

Stanton said that symptoms of infection with E. coli O157 include bloody diarrhea, vomiting, fever and abdominal pain, and that most people recover after one or two weeks. She added that this strain could cause "very severe illness for people in vulnerable groups such as young children, babies and elderly people."

Among these groups, Stanton said, E. coli could cause organ failure and severe kidney problems such as kidney damage or kidney failure—or even death.

"For many other types of food poisoning bacteria, you need large numbers to make you ill, but for E. coli O157, even a low number of the bacteria can make you ill," Stanton added.

The recall has been classified as Class II by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). That level indicates a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote, states the FDA.

Consumers who have purchased these cheese curds with the specified lot number are advised to avoid consuming the product and to discard them or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Anyone experiencing symptoms of E. coli infection is advised to contact their healthcare provider.

The recall follows an unrelated soft cheese recall being expanded to six states last week, as reported by Newsweek.

A map shows all states currently affected by both cheese product recalls.

A map shows seven states currently affected by cheese recalls across the U.S. A cheese curd product has been recalled in Wisconsin due to concerns relating to potential E.coli contamination. Emma Marsden for Newsweek/Mapchart.net

Details of the cheese curd recall are as follows:

Product Description:

Westby Cheese Curds, UPC 7 50388-30105 2. Keep Refrigerated. No Added Preservatives. Manufactured by Westby Cooperative Creamery, Westby, WI 54667. White, Yellow, and Mixed Curds are packaged in 12 oz. (340g) bags or in 10 lb. bulk boxes.

Reason for Recall:

Cheese curds may be contaminated with generic E. coli.

Product Quantity:

914 pounds. total

Recall Number:

F-0124-2025

Code Information:

Sell By Date: 11-26-24 on bulk container and Expiration Date of 11-26-24 on 12-ounce bags.

Classification:

Class II