Cheese Sold At Aldi Is The Latest Product Recall You Need To Know About

One common brand seen on Aldi shelves recently announced a voluntary recall of one of its soft-ripened cheeses due to possible contamination with listeria monocytogenes. Namely, a U.S. brand, Savencia Cheese USA, is recalling its Aldi Emporium Selection Brie Soft Ripened Cheese (via FDA). This is the only cheese under the recall that is sold at Aldi (though the FDA lists additional affected Savencia cheeses sold in other stores). This recall currently affects Aldi stores in six states: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, and Missouri, as per an Aldi press release. 

Consuming foods contaminated with listeria can be dangerous, especially for young children, older adults, and those with a weakened or compromised immune system. Symptoms of listeria infection include headache, gastrointestinal upset, and fever.

The contamination was discovered when the manufacturer found traces of the bacteria on equipment used to process the cheese. This news comes on the heels of McDonald's deadly E. coli outbreak linked to contaminated onions. While none of the cheese tested positive for listeria, Savencia issued the recall out of an abundance of caution. As of this writing, no reports of illness related to this recall has come to light.

According to the FDA, consumers can either dispose of the potentially tainted cheese or return it to the store where it was purchased. Consumers are asked to check the UPC codes listed on the FDA's website to determine if their cheese is among the affected lots. This isn't the first time Aldi has recalled foods due to listeria concerns. In July 2024, fears of listeria contamination caused Aldi to pull several types of fresh produce. 

Listeria bacteria is killed when food is cooked to 165 degrees. However, produce and soft cheeses are rarely cooked to that high of a temperature and are thus more prone to contamination and potentially causing illnesses.

So, before you put together that charcuterie board with the perfect pairings, take a second look at the cheese you purchased and compare it against the FDA's list of recalled products. After all, listeria is nothing to mess with and it's always better to be safe than sorry.