FDA recalls cream cheese with highest warning for 'serious adverse health consequences or death'

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an urgent health warning and recall for batches of cream cheese, advising customers of a serious health risk.

This health warning was a Class I recall, the highest and most urgent they have.

According to the FDA, a Class I is issued when 'there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death'.

Several flavors of the Made Fresh Salads' cream cheese have been affected by the recall.

An initial recall was issued on February 20 after it emerged that the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the FDA said, according to a Newsweek report.

However, the recall was upgraded on March 11.

The Food and Drug Administration has recalled several cream cheese products (Getty stock images)

What is Listeria monocytogenes?

The FDA describes Listeria monocytogenes as a type of bacteria that can be found in places like soil, water, and sewage. It can thrive in unsanitary conditions in food production. This can contaminate food, which, when consumed, can cause a disease called listeriosis, which has two forms: non-invasive and invasive.

Listeriosis can lead to symptoms such as headache, nausea, diarrhoea, fatigue, and muscle and joint pain, which usually begin to manifest after a couple of weeks.

While symptoms may be mild for some people, the infection can be dangerous for those with a weakened immune system, potentially causing headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.

In extreme cases, it can also lead to sepsis, pneumonia, and inflammation in the brain and spinal cord, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Particularly high-risk groups of listeriosis include adults over 65, immunocompromised people, newborn babies, and pregnant women, with the FDA recall announcement saying that listeria infection can cause stillbirths and miscarriages.

The FDA has reported no illnesses to date.

Which Made Fresh Salads products have been recalled?

One of the affected products (FDA)

The products affected by the recall are in 5lb white plastic tubs and have a Made Fresh Salads label.

The FDA has reported that these products were distributed in the Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and New York City areas at distributors and retail stores.

Products affected by the recall have expiry dates through to February 27.

The following flavours have been recalled:

• Apple Cinnamon Cream Cheese
• Caramel Cream Cheese
• Blueberry Cream Cheese
• Garlic & Herb Cream Cheese
• Jalapeño Cream Cheese
• Jalapeño Cheddar Cream Cheese
• Lox Cream Cheese
• Scallion Cream Cheese
• Strawberry Cream Cheese
• Sundried Tomato Cream Cheese
• Vegetable Cream Cheese
• Walnut Raisin Cream Cheese
• Whipped Cream Cheese
• Tofu Whipped

The FDA issued a recall following a routine sampling.

Another of the affected products (FDA)

This found that the food could potentially be contaminated, as the investigation 'revealed that a part of the mixer used to manufacture finished products' had been contaminated with Listeria bacteria.

FDA reports have said that Made Fresh Salads has now taken the mixer in question out of service, so it is no longer being used in their production.

While there have been no reports of illnesses, customers who'd purchased the cream cheese products are urged to return them for a full refund.