Mauri Gorgonzola Cheese Recalled

Washington, DCThe Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention join DPI Specialty Foods in warning consumers not to eat Mauri Gorgonzola cheese with sell-by dates of 01/13/11 and 01/14/11. A sample of this cheese tested positive for E. coli O157:H7 in a Colorado state laboratory. Colorado officials discovered the positive sample during the investigation into the recent E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Southwestern states.

The bacterial strain from this cheese is different from the strain linked to those illnesses reported in the recent E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Southwestern states. Investigations are ongoing to determine if any illnesses are associated with eating this recalled cheese.

Most people infected with E. coli O157:H7 develop diarrhea and abdominal cramps, but some illnesses may last longer and can be more severe. While most people recover within a week, some may develop a severe infection. Rarely, as symptoms of diarrhea improve, a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) can occur; this can happen at any age but is most common in children under 5 years old and in older adults. People with HUS should be hospitalized immediately, as their kidneys may stop working and they may be at risk for other serious health problems.

DPI Specialty Foods distributed the Mauri Gorgonzola in Costco locations in Colorado only. Costco is using card record information to contact its members who bought the cheese.