The Minsisnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has advised consumers to avoid eating certain foods produced and now recalled by Parkers Farm, Inc., of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, due to concerns that some of the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.  

Parkers Farm reports that the following items have been recalled:

• 16-ounce peanut butter in square plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including creamy, crunchy, honey creamy and honey crunchy varieties with sell-by dates between 11/14/2010 and 12/31/2010; 
• 34-ounce peanut butter in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including creamy and crunchy varieties with sell-by dates between 8/11/2010 and 9/30/2010;
• 7-ounce bagel spreads in white plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including garden veggie, wild berry, strawberry, apple cinnamon, and honey walnut varieties with sell-by dates between 5/13/2010 and 6/30/2010;
• 14-ounce dips and spreads in square plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including jalapeno nacho, pimento and salsa con queso varieties with sell-by dates between 8/11/2010 and 9/30/2010;
• 8-ounce, 12 ounce and 16 ounce cold pack cheese in round or square plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including sharp cheddar, bacon, onion, smoked cheddar, Swiss almond, horseradish, garlic, port wine and Swiss and cheddar varieties with sell-by dates between 11/14/2010 and 12/31/2010; and
• 16-ounce salsa in square plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including hot, mild, garlic, black bean and fire-roasted varieties, with sell-by dates between 3/14/2010 and 4/30/2010.
• 16-ounce Happy Farms cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including sharp cheddar, port wine and Swiss almond varieties, with sell-by dates between 11/24/2010 and 12/10/2010;
• 8-ounce Kroger cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including sharp cheddar, port wine, and swiss almond varieties with sell-by dates between 11/18/2010 and 12/15/2010;
• 8-ounce Central Markets cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond and horseradish varieties with sell-by dates of 12/9/2010;
• 14-ounce Central Markets salsa con queso in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid) with sell-by date of 8/16/2010;
• 16-ounce Central Markets salsa in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including sharp cheddar, port wine, Swiss almond, horseradish varieties, with sell-by dates of 3/17/2010 through 3/24/2010; and
• 8-ounce Dutch Farms cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap-on lid), including sharp cheddar, port wine, Swiss almond, horseradish and Swiss and Cheddar varieties, with sell-by dates between 11/16/2010 through 11/18/2010.

These products were distributed in retail stores nationwide, including the following Cub, Rainbow, Lunds/Byerly’s, Target, Shop Rite, Path Mark, Wal-Mart, Price Chopper, Whole Foods, Jewel, Dominicks, Marsh, or Kroger stores.  

Parkers Farm asks has asked consumers who have purchased these products to return them to their place of purchase for a full refund.  

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially serious disease marked by fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea.  Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis, but it can sometimes cause fatal infections in infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.  Listeriosis can also lead to miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.  Any consumers who believe they may have become ill after eating the products should contact their health care provider.