Wisconsin-based food company Bekkum Family Farms LLC announced a recall for its shredded cheese product on the 3rd of January. The recalled product, “Nordic Creamery Grumpy Goat Shreds,” is believed to be contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes.

The cheese product is packed in 8-ounce retail bags with a date code of 10-MAR-12. The product was distributed to stores in the area of Minnesota, Wisconsin and California starting November 11. Consumers who may have purchased the recalled cheese product are strongly advised not to consume it and throw it away. They can also return it to the store where it was purchase and receive a refund.

Although the product did not test positive for the bacteria, it is still being recalled because it was processed in equipment that tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The recall was made by the company out of caution, to protect the safety of its customers.

Listeria monocytogenes is a common, but harmful bacterial contaminant. Food poisoning caused by this bacterium is known as Listeriosis and can cause miscarriages in pregnant women. In infants or babies, Listeriosis could cause death. For healthy persons, the most common symptoms of Listeriosis include high fever, stiffness of the neck, severe headache and nausea. People who are infected with Listeriosis, especially pregnant women, babies and elderly people, are advised to immediately seek medical help to prevent the infection from worsening. To date, there have been no reports of Listeria infections that are connected to the recalled shredded cheese.