Face Rock Creamery voluntarily recalled two lots of its “Vampire Slayer Garlic Cheddar Curds” from Trader Joe’s stores in northern California and northern Nevada this week after routine product tests revealed possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
The company, headquartered in Bandon, Oregon, recalled its product on June 20 but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to classify the recall.
Newsweek has contacted Face Rock Creamery outside of regular working hours via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Listeria monocytogenes infection, or listeriosis, may lead to high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
The bacterium poses a greater risk to young children, elderly people, those with compromised immune systems, and pregnant women, who may experience miscarriages or stillbirths if infected.
The Cleveland Clinic has identified soft cheeses, deli meats and unpasteurized dairy products as some of the foods that are more likely to be contaminated with listeria.
What To Know
The issue was discovered during routine sampling, which detected Listeria monocytogenes in finished product samples.
Face Rock Creamery notified the FDA and the Oregon Department of Agriculture and is continuing to work to identify the source of the contamination.
The affected product, “Vampire Slayer Garlic Cheddar Curds,” were sold in 6-ounce sealed plastic cups with a lid and have a “Use By” date of August 29, 2025.
The product has a Universal Product Code of 8 51222 00528 7 and lot numbers 20250519VS01 and 20250519VS02.
The product was distributed at Trader Joe’s stores in northern California (including locations in Monterey, Fresno, and all areas north) and northern Nevada (specifically in Carson City, Reno and Sparks).
As of the latest update, no consumers have reported any illnesses linked to the recalled product.
What People Are Saying
Face Rock Creamery said in its announcement: “Face Rock Creamery is committed to ensuring the safety and quality of our products and is working closely with our distribution partners and regulatory agencies to resolve the matter swiftly and thoroughly. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate the trust our customers place in us.”
Cleveland Clinic says on its website: “Listeria is a bacterial infection that’s more dangerous during pregnancy. It can cause pregnancy loss, lifelong illness in your child and newborn death. It causes flu-like and digestive symptoms. Avoiding foods like deli meats, soft cheeses and unpasteurized milk can reduce your risk.”
What Happens Next
Anyone who purchased the affected product is strongly advised to refrain from consuming it and to return the product to the original point of purchase for a full refund.
Consumer questions can be directed to Face Rock Creamery’s Customer Care team at info@facerockcreamery.com during regular business hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.
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