Giant Food Stores announce recall of shredded cheese

Some packages of Miller's Shredded Cheese may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Giant Food Stores announced tonight the voluntary recall of Miller's Shredded Cheese due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

The following products, with expiration dates of June 5, 2012 through September 4, 2012, are affected:

• Miller’s Shredded Cheddar Cheese, 8 oz., UPC 7881236950
• Miller’s Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, 8 oz., UPC 7881200910
• Haolam Shredded Cheddar Cheese, 8 oz., UPC 2663826200
• Haolam Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, 8 oz., UPC 2663800264
• Haolam Shredded Pizza Cheese, 8 oz., UPC 2663826300

The recall, announced following notification from the supplier, also applies to Giant's sister stores, Martin's Food Markets.

To date, Giant/Martin's say they received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.

Customers who have purchased the product should discard any unused portions or bring their purchase receipt to Giant/Martin's for a full refund.

Listeria is a common organism found in nature. Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease.

Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause
miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and people with HIV infection or who are undergoing chemotherapy.