Costco issues urgent recall of cheese after foreign substances found in slices

Costco shoppers who recently purchased packages containing Tillamook cheese slices are urged to check those items immediately.

The big box wholesaler published a letter on its website written by Tillamook County Creamery Association Executive Vice President Mike Bever, who confirmed that shoppers found ‘gray and black plastic pieces’ in one of its products.

Bever confirmed in the June 1 letter that the product in question was its twin-pack of Colby Jack and Monterey Jack sold at Costco stores in the northwest region of the US between May 9 and May 31. 

‘If you have already consumed the product without issue, you do not need to take any action, as the likely presence of the foreign plastic material is very minimal,’ Bever wrote.

‘If you still have this item, please refrain from consuming it and return the package to your local Costco for a full refund.’

The company specified the recalled cheese product being the 32-ounce twin-pack package of Tillamook Colby Jack and Tillamook Monterey Jack cheese slices

The company specified the recalled cheese product being the 32-ounce twin-pack package of Colby and Monterey Jack cheese slices.

The northwest regional states affected by this recall include Washington, Oregon, Northern California, Montana, and Idaho, according to USA Today.

It’s unclear how many Costco stores are in the northwest region in the US but there are currently more than 800 locations worldwide.

Although customers in the northwest region are the only ones that are affected, Bever noted that cheese consumption will not cause an individual to have severe medical issues.

‘If you have already consumed the product without issue, you do not need to take any action, as the likely presence of the foreign plastic material is very minimal,’ he wrote.

Bever concluded the letter with Tillamook’s email, hello@tillamook.com, and phone number, (855)-562-3568, and urged individuals who have ‘issues or concerns’ to contact the company.

Bever concluded the letter with Tillamook’s email, hello@tillamook.com, and phone number, (855)-562-3568, and urged individuals who have ‘issues or concerns’ to contact the company

This is not the first issue Costco has had this year regarding urgent recalls of products.  

The latest Costco Tillamook cheese recall takes place less than a month after a small recall of Veggies Made Great Breakfast Potato Bakes sold at the warehouse chain’s stores between May 3 and May 9.

‘This product is being recalled because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes,’ wrote New Classic Cook LLC’s Director of Quality Assurance Mike Limbaugh in a letter published by Costco on May 10.

‘Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.’

Limbaugh added that healthy individuals may only suffer ‘short-term symptoms’ like fevers, severe headaches, and nausea, but that can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. 

Before that, the warehouse chain recalled all packs of Fratelli Beretta brand Antipasto Gran Beretta charcuterie meat from its locations after officials discovered the items were linked to a salmonella outbreak in the US in January.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning after 47 cases of salmonella were reported in two weeks.

Both companies urged all Costco customers to dispose of or return the recalled products to their nearest location to receive a free refund.