Listeria in local cheese leads to recall

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN — Another local cheese maker is going through a product recall, but this time it's over possible contamination with listeria.

On Thursday the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Castle Cheese Inc. is voluntarily recalling Okanagan's Choice Cheese shredded cheese products sold in Alberta, B.C. and Manitoba due to possible listeria contamination. The agency is now conducting an investigation that could lead to the recall of other products.

Currently the nacho blend (200 g), shredded cheddar (200 g), shredded mozzarella (200 g) and shredded parmesan (175 g) are on recall. If you have these products the agency says they should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.

Listeria contamination may not result in food looking or smelling spoiled, but it can still make you sick. Symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headaches and neck stiffness. At this time there have not been any reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

Last summer Gort's Gouda was behind a national recall after E. coli contamination killed a Vernon woman.

To contact a reporter for this story, email jstahn@infotelnews.ca or call 250-819-3723.