Cheese Tray
Representative image of a cheese tray. Jill Wellington/Pixabay

Listeria-contamination fears prompted a cheesemaker on Friday to recall its goods found in some of North America's most popular grocery stores and retailers.

Much of Old Europe Cheese's Brie and Camembert products are on the Food and Drug Administration's recall list.

The Brie and Camembert cheeses affected by the recall were distributed from Aug. 1 to Sept. 28 at supermarkets, wholesale, and at retail stores throughout the U.S. and Mexico.

The recalled cheeses are sold in Albertsons, Safeway, Meijer, Harding's, Shaw's, Price Chopper, Market Basket, Raley's, Save Mart, Giant Foods, Stop & Shop, Fresh Thyme, Lidl, Sprouts, Athenian Foods and Whole Foods, among others.

The recalled cheeses has a best-by date through Dec. 14. The cheeses may also have been repackaged into smaller containers for resale. It may not have the original labeling or product information, the FDA warned.

The affected cheeses should not be consumed. They should be thrown away. In addition, all surfaces that came in contact with the cheese should be sanitized. Listeria can survive in refrigerated temperatures and spread to other food and surfaces.

Questions about the recall can be directed to Old Europe Cheese at 1-269-925-5003, Ext 335, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET.

The recall was issued after a sample product tested positive for Listeria at one of the company's facilities. The company said it initiated the recall after one of its samples tested positive. None of the cheeses being recall have tested positive for Listeria, but Old Europe Cheese said it issued the voluntary recall to "avoid any risk to their customers."

The company said it has identified the source of the possible contamination.

Old Europe Cheese has also stopped production of the cheeses and will not restart operations until it has "full confidence" in its safety measures.

"The quality and safety of our products is our number one priority," the company said in the recall notice. "We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by this situation."

Listeria infections can cause short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. It can also, in some cases, cause serious and fatal illnesses in children, elderly adults and those with weakened immune systems. It can also endanger pregnant women.