Many in Illinois Have Shredded Cheese with a Deadly Contamination

There's an urgent recall of a super-popular shredded cheese that was distributed in Illinois due to what is possibly a deadly contamination.

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You will want to check your fridge immediately if you've bought shredded cheese in Illinois as this is one of the most popular brands. Food and Wine reports that Illinois is one of the main states along with 14 others where many Sargento shredded cheese products are under an urgent recall to what is believed to be a Listeria contamination. The Food and Drug Administration has a bulletin detailing this recall.

This recall is so vast it involves 9 different variations of Sargento cheese products that were on Illinois store shelves. Here are the categories and the UPC codes for each:

Cotija

• Sargento Course Grated Cotija Cheese - UPC Code: 46100352601
• Sargento Coarse Grated Cotija Cheese - UPC Code: 46100355176
• Sargento 25015 Grated Cotija Cheese - UPC Code: 46100355831

Parmesan

• Sargento Fresh Grated Parmesan Cheese - UPC Code: 46100348659
• Sargento Fancy Shredded Parmesan Cheese - UPC Code: 46100334997
• Sargento Fancy Shredded Parmesan Cheese - UPC Code: 46100330302
• Sargento Fancy Shredded Parmesan Cheese - UPC Code: 46100355596

Swiss

• Sargento Fancy Shredded Swiss Cheese - UPC Code: 46100349816
• Sargento Fancy Shredded Swiss Cheese - UPC Code: 46100334997

Asiago

• Sargento Fancy Shredded Fresh Asiago Cheese - UPC Code: 46100342688
• Sargento Shredded Fresh Asiago Cheese - UPC Code: 46100354865

Monterey Jack

• Sargento Deep V Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese - UPC Code: 46100343999
• Sargento Fancy Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese - UPC Code: 46100356753

White Cheddar

• Sargento Fancy Shredded Sharp White Cheddar Cheese - UPC Code: 46100329313
• Sargento Fancy Shredded Mild White Cheddar Cheese - UPC Code: 46100346136
• Sargento Fancy Shred Mild White Cheddar Cheese - UPC Code: 46100350829

Cheddar

• Sargento Deep V Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese - UPC Code: 46100348611
• Sargento Thick “N Hearty Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese - UPC Code: 46100356432

Italian Cheese Blend

• Sargento Fancy Shredded Italian Cheese Blend Pack - UPC Code: 46100344583
• Sargento Fancy Shredded Italian Cheese Blend - UPC Code: 46100355343

Blends

• Sargento Bevel Shredded Queso Quesadilla Cheese - UPC Code: 46100356593
• Sargento Fancy Shredded Bistro Blends Nacho & Taco Cheese Blend - UPC Code: 46100334157

Listeria is a very serious infection that has been responsible for at least 260 deaths each year according to the Centers for Disease Control. For the very young, very old and/or those with compromised immune systems, it can be a deadly infection that can quickly become serious.

For more details, check out the original FDA recall bulletin.