Cheese Sold at Farmers' Markets Recalled

A Norcross-based dairy has issued a recall on mozzarella cheese sold last week at the Peachtree Road Farmers' Market in Buckhead and other farmers' markets.

Norcross-based AtlantaFresh Artisan Creamery said in a statement that the recall was a precautionary measure, and "we do not believe there to be any food safety issues."

The recall was the result of a routine Ga. Department of Agriculture inspection Tuesday that found a 1-degree temperature discrepancy in the company's pasteurization records, the creamery said.

AtlantaFresh Artisan Creamery issued the recall on mozzarella sold last week at six farmers markets in metro Atlanta, according to the Peachtree Farmers' Market Facebook page. The cheese is shaped in 8 oz. balls with the code date “best by date 7/16.” Here is the link to the Peachtree Road Farmers' Market Facebook page.

A statement from Ron Marks of Atlanta Fresh said “The recall was in relation to a discrepancy of 1 degree in our pasteurization temperature records when being reviewed today by the Ga. Dept. of Agriculture.” Peachtree Road Market manager Lauren Carey included Marks' statement in an e-mail to Buckhead Patch.

Carey said in a statement in the e-mail, “Since we are talking about a single degree discrepancy between two temperature gauges, I am pleased and not surprised to report that we have had no reports of illness, just many happy cheese eaters.

“Peachtree Road Farmers Market, along with all our fellow markets, will support Atlanta Fresh to inform customers about the recall, and customers will be able to exchange cheeses at the market," Carey said. " They will also get a complimentary yogurt for their trouble. We take the health and safety of our customers very seriously.”

She said that she ate the cheese herself and “I feel just fine.”

Marks in his statement said “There have been no reported cases of foodborne illness and we do not believe there to be any food safety issues, as we taste every batch of finished cheese. We are announcing this recall as a cautionary gesture.

 “We will have a recall notice posted on our sales table this coming weekend advising customers of the recall, asking them to return any uneaten product and certainly offer their choice of refund or another ball of cheese. We regret this situation and any inconvenience this may cause you and our valuable customers.”

In addition to Peachtree Road, the Creamery said cheese was sold at Alpharetta Farmers Market, Marietta Square, Sandy Springs Farmers Market, Grant Park Farmers' Market and Piedmont Park farmers market.

The problem was discovered during a routine inspection by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the Peachtree Road Farmers Market Facebook page said.