Fair Oaks recalls cheese for listeria

FAIR OAKS, Ind. (WISH) - Indiana-based Fair Oaks Farms, located about 50 miles north of Lafayette off Interstate 65, is recalling cheese that could be contaminated with listeria.

Many half-pound packages of cheese are included in the recall, after a package of cheddar cheese was discovered to have listeria bacteria present.

Listeria is the same bacteria that caused a recall this year of cantaloupe across the country. More than 100 people were sick as a result of the listeria-tainted cantaloupe, and more than 20 people died, including a Hoosier.

No illnesses were reported as of Thursday morning in connection to Fair Oaks Farms cheese.

The Fair Oaks recall is for cheeses with the label “Fair Oaks Farms Fine Cheese” and the name of the variety of cheese on the front of the package. The recalled cheese was sold from Sept. 30 to Dec. 3 at the Fair Oaks Dairy store and to other distributors in Northern and Central Indiana and in Illinois.

The affected cheese varieties are: Asiago, Butterkase, Gouda, Aged Gouda, Smoked Gouda, Havarti, Pepper Havarti, Habanero Havarti, Onion Havarti, Veggie Havarti, Havarti Dill, Sweet Swiss, Smoked Sweet Swiss, Emmentaler, Calico, Mozzarella, Farmers, Cheese Curds, Muenster, Provolone, Lacy Swiss, Cheddar, Cheddar Mild, 1 yr. Cheddar, 2 yr. Cheddar, 3 yr. Cheddar, 4 yr. Cheddar, and 5 yr. Cheddar.

The recall includes gift boxes that had the cheeses.

Anyone who feels ill after eating the cheese should contact a doctor. It could take three to 70 days for symptoms to appear. Listeria particularly affects people who are pregnant, diabetic, under the age of 10, over the age of 55 or those with a compromised immune system.

Following is a list of stores where the cheese was distributed:

Wise Way Chesterton 649, 1600 Pioneer Trl central Whse Deli, Chesterton

S & VT Broadway CP, 10851 Broadway Central Whse Deli, Crown Point

S & VT Franciscan CP, 200 W Franciscan Dr Central Whse Deli, Crown Point

Wise Way Crown Point 680, 10839 Randolph St, Crown Point

Tysen Family Foods Demotte, 325 N Halleck St, Demotte

S & VT East Chicago, 4725 Indianapolis Blvd, East Chicago

S & VT Van Til 169th, 2635 169th St Central Whse Deli, Hammond

S & VT Highland, 9632 Cline Ave Central Whse Deli, Highland

Ultra Highland, 8401 Indianapolis Blvd Central Whse Deli, Highland

S & VT Hobart, 7760 E Ridge Rd Central Whse Deli, Hobart

Wise Way Hobart 691, 999 W Old Ridge Rd Central Whse Deli, Hobart

Murphys Food King, 302 E Dunlap St, Kentland

S & VT Lowell, 2080 E Commercial Ave, Lowell

Pay Low Taft 641, 9111 Taft St Central Whse Deli, Merrillville

S & VT Merrillville, 7201 Taft St Central Whse Deli, Merrillville

S & VT Munster, 12 Ridge Rd Central Whse Deli, Munster

Town & Country Portage, 6046 Central Ave Central Whse Deli, Portage

S & VT Rensselaer, 861 S College Ave, Rensselaer

S & VT St John, 9825 Wicker Ave, Saint John

Welchs Stop & Shop, 11333 W. 95th Pl, Saint John

S & VT Schererville, 1515 US Highway 41 Central Whse Deli, Schererville

Town & Country Valpo, 1605 Calumet Ave Central Whse Deli, Valparaiso

Wise Way Calumet 620, 2800 Calumet Ave Central Whse Deli, Valparaiso

Wise Way Valparaiso 610, 2168 Northland Dr US HWY 30, Valparaiso

S & VT Whiting, 1836 Calumet Ave Central Whse Deli, Whiting

S & D Market Inc (Sanders Foods), 858 N Plymouth Rd, Winamac