The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert over the weekend about the voluntary recall of a popular cheese item due to bacteria contamination.
“It has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems,” the FDA said.
The Vampire Slayer Garlic Cheddar Curds product is packaged in a clear, sealed plastic cup with a lid and has the UPC 8 51222 00528 7. Lot numbers are 20250519VS01 and 20250519VS02, and the expiration date is Aug. 29, 2025.
"This is the first product recall in Face Rock Creamery’s history, and it was initiated voluntarily out of an abundance of caution," Face Rock Creamery president Gregory Drobot told NTD in an email. "Routine quality testing identified the potential presence of Listeria monocytogenes in two specific lots of our Vampire Slayer Garlic Cheddar Curds."
The product was distributed in Trader Joe’s locations in two states.
Affected stores are in Monterey, Fresno, and all locations North in California as well as in Carson City, Reno, and Sparks in Nevada.
"We have a close relationship with our vendors," Trader Joe's public relations manager Nakia Rohde told NTD in an email. "We err on the side of caution and are proactive in addressing issues. We voluntarily take action quickly, aggressively investigating potential problems and removing the product from sale if there is any doubt about its safety or quality."
No illnesses have been reported to date, according to Drobot.
The FDA website describes listeria monocytogenes as disease-causing bacteria that can be found in many places, including soil, water, sewage, rotting vegetation, and animals.
“Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women,” the FDA said.
Trader Joe’s announced in April 28 that it was recalling another popular food item called Sesame Miso Salad with Salmon that is sold in 18 states because 500 units of the salad were mistakenly packaged with a sealed packet of parmesan cheese crumbles instead of a packet of crispy onions.
In March, the company recalled certain bottles of Hot Honey Mustard Dressing due to the presence of undeclared allergens, which may have been peanut, sesame, soy, or wheat.
"At Trader Joe's, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our customers and Crew Members," Rohde added. "With this in mind, we do the daily work to make certain our products meet our stringent food safety expectations. We don't take any chances when it comes to product safety and quality."