Batches of gorgonzola cheese bought at Costco stores in Colorado are being recalled due to E. coli 0157: H7 being discovered in an unopened packet of the cheese.
E. coli 0157 is a particularly aggressive form of E. coli that can cause severe diarrhea, abdominal cramps and dehydration. Although most people recover after about a week, rarely a person can go on to develop a life-threatening kidney failure. People more likely to have severe events are children under the age of 5 and elderly people.
Anyone with hemolytic uremic syndrome should be hospitalized immediately if they get this type of food poisoning as they may have kidney failure.
Anyone who is experiencing any of the symptoms of E. coli food poisoning should contact their doctor.
The affected cheese was packaged in clear plastic, in 1 lb. wedges, with a label on it that says ‘"DISTRIBUTED BY DPI Specialty Foods Tualatin, OR, ITALY 34449’, with the sell by dates 01/13/11 or 01/14/11. The Costco item number is 34449.
This only applies to cheese bought from Colorado stores.
Infections of E. coli also occurred after people attended a ‘Cheese Road Show’, held at Costco stores between October 14th and the 17th and the Food and Drug Administration are investigating whether this outbreak is the same one as the one affecting the gorgonzola cheese. So far they think they are separate incidents because the e-coli has different DNA, but their investigation is ongoing.
If you have any of the cheese, DON’T eat it. You can either return it to the store of purchase or throw it out. If you throw it out, please place it in a sealed bag first. This is to prevent wild animals from eating it, as they too can become ill.
If you have any queries, you can telephone DPI Specialty Foods on 1-800-597-3876.