Sprout Creek Farm Recalls “Kinkead” Cheese due to Possible Health Risk

Sprout Creek Farm of Poughkeepsie, New York is recalling 4 wheels of “Kinkead” cheese made on 5-10-18, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. 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.

No illnesses have been reported to date. Any consumer with the product should dispose of it immediately. Sprout Creek Farm has been in contact with distributors and markets to immediately remove this batch of “Kinkead” cheese from their shelves.

The recalled batch of “Kinkead” cheese was distributed to the following locations, which have all been notified of the recall and instructed to dispose of the cheese:

“Kinkead” is a raw semi-firm, washed natural rind cheese, packaged with an orange label. Some of the distributed cheese was cut and sold by weight within the stores listed.

The issue was discovered as Sprout Creek Farm was taking proactive measures as part of determining the root cause of the Listeria monocytogenes contamination discovered during routine testing earlier this month. In conducting a thorough review, Sprout Creek Farm determined that Listeria monocytogenes may have been present in the environment. In line with Sprout Creek’s mission of providing healthy, sustainable food, all cheese in the farm’s aging caves is being tested to ensure its safety. No new cheese will be produced until a complete review and overhaul of creamery facilities, procedures, and standing practices are complete.

Sprout Creek Farm voluntarily ceased all production of cheese immediately following that recall initiated on November 6.  Additionally since the November 6 recall, there has been no production or distribution of any cheese by the farm. The 5-10-2018 “Kinkead” cheese was distributed prior to the November 6 recall.

For additional information regarding this recall, call Sister Margo Morris at Sprout Creek Farm (845) 485-8438 from 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday – Friday EST.

“Sprout Creek Farm takes this very seriously and we have voluntarily gone above and beyond what is required to ensure our cheese is both safe and exquisite,” said Mark Fredette, Executive Director of Sprout Creek Farm.

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