Company recalling brie cheese

Company recalling brie cheese

The state Health Department announced that a voluntary recall of one brand of brie cheese has expanded to Hawai'i.

President Brie Soft-Ripened Cheese is being voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer, Lactalis USA of Turlock, Calif., because of potential contamination with a bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes.

That organism can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. It can also cause miscarriages.

The first recall went out Dec. 23 after the contaminated cheese was discovered through routine sampling and testing by the Florida State Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Items affected have a "sell by" date of Jan. 10, 2004 to March 2, 2004.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at www.lactalis-usa.com or the state Food and Drug Branch at 586-4725.