Panera Bread said it’s recalling cream cheese over fears of listeria contamination.
In a statement on its website, the St. Louis-based firm “is conducting a nationwide preemptive, voluntary recall of all 2 oz. and 8 oz. cream cheese products sold in its U.S. bakery-cafes.”
“This recall was initiated after samples of one variety of 2 oz. cream cheese from a single production day showed a positive result for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes,” the statement reads.
The products have an expiration date of on or before April 2, 2018, the chain said. The affected products are Plain Cream Cheese, Reduced-Fat Plain Cream Cheese, Reduced-Fat Chive & Onion Cream Cheese, Reduced-Fat Honey Walnut Cream Cheese, and Reduced-Fat Wild Blueberry Cream Cheese.
“This recall only affects cream cheese sold in Panera Bread United States bakery cafes and does not affect Panera Bread Canadian bakery cafes or any other Panera Bread food products,” the statement reads.
“The safety of our guests and associates is paramount, therefore we are recalling all cream cheese products sold in the US with an active shelf life. We have likewise ceased all manufacturing in the associated cream cheese facility,” stated Blaine Hurst, Panera’s president and CEO. “Only one variety of 2-oz cream cheese from a single day yielded the positive result. Our intent is to go above and beyond for our guests. You should expect nothing less from Panera.”Listeria monocytogenes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, can cause listeriosis. It’s described as a “serious infection” that affects “an estimated 1,600 people each year,” of which 260 die, the agency said.
“The infection is most likely to sicken pregnant women and their newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems,” the CDC said.
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