Sargento Expands Cheese Recall And Drops Its Supplier

On Feb. 10, Sargento Foods Inc. issued a voluntary recall of certain packaged cheese products for possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. On Feb. 17, Sargento announced that "out of an abundance of caution," the company has expanded its list of recalled products.

The new products recalled, in addition to those announced on Feb. 10, include:

  • Sargento Sliced Colby, 8 oz., UPC 4610000105, Sell By date 15MAY17F
  • Sargento Sliced Muenster, 8oz., UPC 4610000107, Sell By dates 05MAR17F, 06MAR17F, 15APR17F, 16APR17F and 17APR17F
  • Sargento Sliced Pepper Jack, 7.5 oz., UPC 4610000122, Sell By date 03MAY17B
  • Sargento Sliced Tomato & Basil Jack, 6.67 oz., UPC 4610000279, Sell By date 03MAR17B
  • Sargento Shredded Reduced Fat Colby-Jack, 8 oz., UPC 4610041018, Sell By date H07APR17
  • Sargento Shredded Chef Blends 4 Cheese Pizzeria, 8 oz., UPC 4610041105, Sell By date H10APR17
  • Sargento Artisan Blends Double Cheddar Shredded Cheese, 8 oz., UPC 4610040094, Sell By date H08JUN17 and H09JUN17

The company has also added more "Sell by" dates for products that were recalled on Feb. 10 including:

  • Sargento Ultra Thin Sliced Longhorn Colby, 6.84 oz., UPC 4610000228, Sell By dates 02FEB17F, 01MAR17B and 16MAR17F
  • Sargento Chefs Blend Taco Blend Shredded Cheese, 8 oz., UPC 4610040002, Sell By dates H11MAY17 and H01JUN17
  • Sargento Sliced Pepper Jack, 12oz., UPC 4610000108, Sell By dates 02MAY17B, 03MAY17B, 11JUN17B
  • Sargento Sliced Colby-Jack, 12oz., UPC 4610000109, Sell By date 01MAY17B
  • Sargento Off the Block Fine Cut Colby-Jack Shredded Cheese, 8 oz., UPC 4610040014, Sell By date H06MAY17
  • Sargento Chef Blends Nacho & Taco Shredded Cheese, 8oz., UPC 4610040041, Sell By dates H04MAY17, S15MAY17 and H01JUN17
  • Sargento Off the Block Fine Cut Cheddar Jack Shredded Cheese, 8 oz., UPC 4610040076, Sell By dates H07MAY17, H08MAY17 and H09MAY17

In light of the recall, the company has also cut ties with one of its suppliers, Indiana-based Deutsch Kase Haus, which supplied Sargento with the potentially contaminated Longhorn Colby, according to the company website.

"We deeply regret any inconvenience or concern this issue has caused," Louie Gentine, Sargento Foods CEO, said in a statement.

"We have high expectations for the quality and safety of our products and hold our suppliers accountable to those same standards. We will continue to evaluate our processes to ensure we remain a leader in food safety and quality."

For any questions, consumers can call the Sargento Consumer Affairs at 1-800-243-3737 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. (Central Time), or submit questions through the company's "Contact" page.