Ontario Ricotta Cheese Recalled

Updated December 5, 2008
(originally posted December 3, 2008)

International Cheese Co. Ltd. (Toronto, ON) has recalled a single production lot of Santa Lucia brand Ricotta Cheese due to the possibility that the cheese was contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The cheese is sold in 500-gram packages, and is identified by lot number 477 and a Best Before date of 09JA01. The ricotta was distributed in Ontario and in the following three Montreal, QC stores (Montreal distribution updated Dec 5th):

• Inter Marché Lagoria St-Léonard, 5305 Jean-Talon East
  
• Inter Marché St Michel,10, 181 St Michel Blvd.
  
• Charcuterie Noël, 5733 Léger Blvd.
  

Listeria monocytogenes infections may produce mild flu-like or gastrointestinal symptoms in healthy adults, but can cause serious – sometimes fatal – illness in the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and frail or immuno-compromised individuals. A pregnant women who becomes infected with Listeria monocytogenes may pass her infection to her unborn child, resulting in premature birth, stillbirth, or the birth of a seriously ill infant.

Anyone who purchased the recalled batch of Santa Lucia Ricotta Cheese should return it to the store for a refund. For more information, consumers can call the company directly at 416-769-3547.