Whole Foods recalls cheese after people report illness

New York, NY — Whole Foods Market Inc. is recalling Crave Brothers Les Freres cheese in response to an outbreak of a bacterial infection that has sickened people in several states and killed at least one.

Whole Foods says the cheese may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

It was sold in 30 states - including Washington state - and Washington DC under names including Les Freres and Crave Brothers Les Freres.

The company is posting signs in its stores to inform customers about the recall.

Public health officials in Illinois say one resident became sick after eating contaminated cheese in May.

Minnesota officials say one elderly person in the state died and another was hospitalized after illnesses linked to the cheese.

Listeria can lead to severe illness for women who are pregnant or people who have weakened immune systems.

Whole Foods says the recalled Crave Brothers Les Frères cheese was cut and packaged in clear plastic wrap.

It was sold with Whole Foods Market scale labels.

The US Food and Drug Administration released a list of how the cheese was labeled, including PLU code, according to the state in which it was sold.

State Labeled as PLU

Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas - Les Frères 299682

Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, New Mexico, Utah - Crave Brothers Les Frères 299682

Florida - Les Frères Wash Rind Product of USA 294473

Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey (stores in Marlton and Princeton only), Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Washington D.C. - Crave Bros Les Frères 294473

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Wisconsin - Crave Brothers Les Frères Cheese by Pound 294473

Oregon, Washington - Les Frères Crave Brothers 294473 A

labama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee - Les Frères Crave Brothers PO-RK 294473

KIRO