The Cultured Kitchen of West Sacramento, Calif., is recalling all flavors of its non-dairy cashew cheese product due to a risk of Salmonella contamination.
The non-dairy cashew cheese was distributed in Northern California and Nevada at various natural foods stores and farmers markets in the Sacramento Valley, San Francisco Bay Area and Reno.
The cashew cheese products being recalled by The Cultured Kitchen are:
-- 794504922714 Herb 4/19/14 8 ounce round.
-- 736211709134 Smoked Cheddar 4/19/14 8 oz round.
-- 794504922615 Pepper Jack 4/19/14 8 oz round.
-- 794504922813 Habanero Cilantro Lime 4/19/14 8 oz round.
-- 794504851120 Pesto or Basil Pesto 4/19/14 8 oz round.
-- 794504924015 White Cheddar 4/19/14 8 oz round.
The recall involved includes all expiration dates up to and including 4/19/14.
The recall was initiated immediately after it was suspected raw materials used in the production of The Cultured Kitchen's cashew cheese product might have been tainted with a specific strain of Salmonella found almost exclusively in Southeast Asia, where the company's cashews are sourced, company officials said.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection include fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea, which may be bloody. Most infected people recover within a week; but some may develop complications that require hospitalization. Infants, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are at highest risk.
Consumers who have purchased The Cultured Kitchen cashew cheese with these expiration date ranges are urged to return it to their place of purchase for a full refund or dispose of it immediately.
