French Cheese Recalled for Salmonella Contamination

French cheesemaker Ste Fromagere du Livradois is recalling its Raclette and Montboissie cheeses from the U.S. market because they could be contaminated with Salmonella.  The recall applies to Haut Livradois brand Raclette and Montboissie cheeses with lot #350 and were distributed in supermarkets and gourmet stores nationwide between March 10 and May 6. They both come as a 13-lb. wheel and are usually cut and wrapped. The Montboissie has a vegetable ash line in the middle of the cheese. The Raclette does not.  The voluntarily recall was initiated after a routine sampling by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revealed the presence of Salmonella in some products. FDA and Ste Fromagere du Livradois are investigating the source of the problem to fix it.  Each and every distributor and retailer is being contacted in an effort to recall any and all remaining product in the marketplace.  Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (e.g., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.  No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the products.  If you ate any of the affected product(s) and experienced illness as a result, please contact your healthcare provider and/or notify your local health department so tests can be conducted on either food or human samples and results can be reported to the appropriate public health agencies.