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Parkers Farm Recall FAQ

What has happened here?

On January 8, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) alerted consumers to avoid eating certain peanut butter, cheese, salsa, cream cheese bagel spreads, dips and spreads produced by Parkers Farm, Inc., of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, after state agriculture department product sampling determined some of the finished products to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.  Parkers Farm has subsequently extended the recall to include all products, regardless of lot code or production date, after further investigation by MDA determined that all products produced at the company’s Coon Rapids facility may have been contaminated with L.  monocytogenes bacteria. 

How was this discovered?

This contamination was initially reported to MDA by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection after they discovered contaminated product through routine product sampling. 

Have there been any illnesses reported?

To date there are no reports of illness associated with consumption of the products.  However, any consumers who believe they may have become ill after eating the products should contact their health care provider.  The recall and consumer advisory are precautionary, as our goal is to prevent illness when possible.

What products are affected?

All products produced by Parkers Farm, regardless of lot code or production date, are being recalled.  These include cheese balls and logs, peanut butter, cheese, salsa, cream cheese bagel spreads, dips and spreads.

The list of products recalled by Parkers Farm under the Parkers or Parkers Farm label is as follows:

  • 12 ounce & 16 ounce Peanut Butter in square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), regular and organic varieties are Creamy, Crunchy, Honey Creamy and Honey Crunchy with sell-by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
  •  34 ounce Peanut Butter in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are Creamy and Crunchy with sell-by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
  •  7 ounce Bagel Spreads in white plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are Garden Veggie, Wild Berry, Strawberry, Apple Cinnamon and Honey Walnut with sell-by dates on or before 06/30/2010.
  •  12 ounce & 14 ounce Dips & Spreads in square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are Jalapeno Nacho, Pimento and Salsa Con Queso with sell-by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
  •  8 ounce, 12 ounce and 16 ounce Cold Pack Cheese in round or square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are Sharp Cheddar, Bacon, Onion, Smoked Cheddar,  Swiss Almond, Horseradish, Garlic, Port Wine, and Swiss & Cheddar with sell-by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
  •  16 ounce Salsa in square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are Hot, Mild, Garlic, Black Bean and Fire Roasted with sell-by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
  •  32 ounce Salsa in Plastic Jugs (clear jug with screw cap), varieties are Hot, Mild, Garlic, and Black Bean with sell-by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
  •  8 ounce, 12/9 ounce, 12/10 ounce Balls & Logs (in film overwrap), varieties are Sharp Cheddar, Port Wine, Smokey Bacon, Ranch, Garlic, Jalapeno, Pimento, Spinach, Jajik, Beer and Chorizo with a sell-by date of 01/05/2011.
  •  2/5#, 2/5.5#, 2/10#, 1/30#  Parkers Farm Cold Pack Cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are Sharp Cheddar, Onion, Bacon, Smoked Cheddar, Swiss Almond, Horseradish, Garlic, Port Wine, and Swiss & Cheddar with a sell-by date of 09/30/2010.

In addition, Parkers Farm has recalled product produced under other labels as follows:

  • 16 ounce Happy Farms Cold Pack Cheese in round plastic containers  (tub with snap on lid), varieties are Sharp Cheddar, Port Wine and Swiss Almond with a sell-by date of 12/31/2010.
  •  8 ounce Kroger Cold Pack Cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are Sharp Cheddar, Port Wine and Swiss Almond with a sell-by date of 12/31/2010.
  •  8 ounce Central Markets Cold Pack Cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are Sharp Cheddar, Port Wine, Swiss Almond, Horseradish with a sell-by date of 12/31/2010.
  •  14 ounce Central Markets Salsa Con Queso in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid) with a sell-by date of 09/30/2010.
  •  16 ounce Central Markets Salsa in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are Sharp Cheddar, Port Wine, Swiss Almond, Horseradish with a sell-by date of 04/30/2010.
  •  8 ounce Dutch Farms Cold Pack Cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are Sharp Cheddar, Port Wine, Swiss Almond, Horseradish, and Swiss & Cheddar with a sell-by date of 12/31/2010.
  •  7 ounce Dutch Farms Cream Cheese Spreads in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are Strawberry, Wild Berry, Honey Walnut & Apple Cinnamon with a sell-by date of  on or before 06/30/2010.
  • 8 ounce Crystal Farms Cold Pack Cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are Sharp Cheddar, Port Wine, Swiss Almond, Bacon and Jalapeno Cheddar with sell-by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
  •  8 ounce Amish Classic Cold Pack Cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are Sharp Cheddar, Port Wine, Swiss Almond, Horseradish with a sell-by date on or before 12/31/2010.
  •  10 ounce Amish Classic Cheese Balls & Logs (in film overwrap), varieties are Cheddar, Port Wine, Ranch, Smokey Bacon, Beef N Onion with a sell-by date on or before 01/05/2011.
  •  12 ounce Century Resources Cold Pack Cheese Food (tub with snap on lid), varieties are Sharp Cheddar, Horseradish, Bacon with a sell-by date Of XXX9 (The first 3 digits aren’t important, but the last digit must be a 9)
  •  12 ounce Century Resources Pimento Spread (tub with snap on lid) with a sell-by date Of XXX9 (The first 3 digits aren’t important, but the last digit must be a 9.
  •  8 ounce and 12/12 ounce Century Resources Cheese Ball & Log (in film overwrap) Sharp Cheddar with a sell-by date of XXX9 (The first 3 digits aren’t important, but the last digit must be a 9)
  •  12 ounce Century Resources Salsa Con Queso (tub with snap on lid) with a sell-by date of XXX9 (The first 3 digits aren’t important, but the last digit must be a 9)
  •  2/4#, 2/5.5# Block & Barrel Cold Pack Cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are Sharp Cheddar, Swiss Almond, Horseradish, Port Wine and Pimiento Spread with packed on dates on or before 12/30/2009.
  •  1/30# Block & Barrel Sharp Cheddar Cold Pack Cheese (white pail with snap on lid) with packed on dates on or before 12/30/2009.
  •  2/5# Cobblestone Cold Pack Cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are Sharp Cheddar, Port Wine, Swiss Almond, Horseradish with a sell-by date  on or before 06/30/2010.
  •  1/30# Cobblestone Sharp Cheddar Cold Pack Cheese (white pail with snap on lid) with a sell-by date on or before 06/30/2010.
  •  2/5# Biery Label Cold Pack Cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are Sharp Cheddar and Port Wine with a sell-by date on or before 09/30/2010.
  •  2/5# Dierks Waukesha Cold Pack Cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are Sharp Cheddar, Port Wine, Horseradish, Swiss Almond with a sell-by date on or before 09/30/2010.

What should consumers do with these products?

Parkers Farm is asking consumers who have purchased these products to return them to their place of purchase for a full refund.  Consumers with questions may call the company directly at 1-800-869-6685.

Where were these products sold?

The products are distributed nationwide in retail stores under the Parkers Farm, Parkers, Happy Farms, Kroger, Central Markets, Dutch Farms, Crystal Farms, Amish Classic, Century, Block & Barrel, Cobblestone, Biery, and Dierks labels. Products subject to the recall may have been sold at Hy-Vee, Cub, Rainbow, Lunds/Byerly’s, Target, Whole Foods, Jewel, Dominicks, Marsh, Price Chopper, Shop Rite, Nash Finch, Sams Club, Costco, Safeway, Kroger, Wal-Mart, Aldi, Coborn's, and Cash Wise stores .  

What are the potential health risks of eating food with Listeria bacteria?

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially serious disease marked by fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea.  Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis, but it can sometimes cause fatal infections in infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.  Listeriosis can also lead to miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.  For more information on listeriosis, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Listeriosis fact sheet.

What should consumers do if they believe they may have become ill after eating product subject to this recall?

Any consumers who believe they may have become ill after eating the products should contact their health care provider.