WASHINGTON — Panera Bread is recalling all 2-ounce and 8-ounce cream cheese products nationwide after a sample of one of the products tested positive for listeria monocytogenes.
The products in question have an expiration date on or before April 2, 2018.
No illnesses caused by the cream cheese have been reported, and tests on cheese samples made before and after the contaminated production run have come back negative.
Panera said in a statement that the recall is pre-emptive and voluntary, and that manufacturing in the associated facility has ceased.
Listeria is a serious infection that is most likely to sicken pregnant women and newborns, older adults and people with weakened immune systems, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Customers with these products should throw them away immediately, and contact Panera Bread by calling 1-855-6-PANERA or online:
Affected 2- and 8-ounce cream cheese products:
- Plain cream cheese
- Reduced fat cream cheese
- Reduced fat chive and onion cream cheese
- Reduced fat honey walnut cream cheese
- Reduced fat wild blueberry cream cheese
Customers can reach Panera Bread from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
