Here’s Which Cream Cheese Was Recalled And 3 Amazing Alternatives

On May 6th, 2024, the FDA announced that the company, Hy-Vee, Inc., has recalled their branded Cream Cheese due to the possibility of Salmonella contamination. Hy-Vee, Inc is an employee-owned chain of grocers located in the midwest/southern US with 280+ locations around Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin with plans to open additional locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the government agency who is responsible for protecting and notifying the public about possible safety issues of all human and veterinary drugs, medical devices, food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.

Recall By Hy-Vee, Inc

Based in West Des Moines, the company has volunteered to recall two varieties of its Cream Cheese Spread due to the potential contamination, though no one has reported getting sick from the product. They have also included its Cookies & Cream Snack tub as it may have possibly been contaminated as well.

While these products are not manufactured or packaged directly by Hy-Vee, they were notified by the third-party facility about the possibility of the potential contamination prompting Hy-Vee to issue the recall. At this point in time, there still have not been any reported illnesses due to Salmonella from these products.

The recalled products were distributed and potentially sold through the Hy-Vee Drug Store and Dollar Fresh Market locations and the Hy-Vee Fast and Fresh convenience stores in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. See below for more information on the products that were part of the recall.

No other varieties of Hy-Vee Cream Cheese or bulk-packaged items are affected by this voluntary recall.

^{*copied from Recall_Supplier Recalls Impact Two Hy-Vee Products Third-Party Manufacturers Alert Retailer of Potential for Contamination; No Illnesses Reported}

Alternatives To Hy-Vee Cream Cheese

Other Brand Names

Of course, the first thought would be to purchase a different brand of Cream Cheese. I checked into what other brands are carried by the Hy-Vee supermarkets and found that they carry Philadelphia, and That’s Smart products in addition to their branded Hy-Vee Cream Cheese. I haven’t been in a store that didn’t carry the Philadelphia Cream Cheese brand though it is generally a little more expensive as it is produced by the Kraft Heinz corporation.

For Baking Or Recipes

There are many alternatives if you are using a creamy cheese in a recipe. Here are a few public favorites.

• Sour Cream can be a lower calorie choice, creates a fluffy moist texture in baked goods and a creaminess to cheesecake. You would substitute sour cream for cream cheese 1:1.
• Greek Yogurt is also a good lower-calorie substitute and adds protein power along with additional B₁₂ and calcium to your recipe. It also adds a richness depending on the variety you use,  full-fat making a richer dish than non-fat. You would substitute sour cream for cream cheese 1:1.
• Cottage Cheese is another lower fat substitute but as it’s chunky, you will need to puree it before use. For cooking, you will need to add heavy cream or half-and-half to make it thicker. You would use a 1:1 ratio again including both the cottage cheese/heavy cream mixture.
• Neufchâtel, originally produced in Normandy, France, is going to be the closest replacement, so this is advised if you are using it as a topping such as on toast or a bagel. Bonus, it is about 1/3 lower fat due to its being made with milk rather than cream. You would use a 1:1 ratio with this substitution. 
• Mascarpone is also a good possibility though it is significantly sweeter so you will want to take that into consideration. You would use a 1:1 ratio with this substitution.
• Quark,   made from buttermilk and heavy whipping cream is a cream cheese originating in Germany. The consistency is similar but the flavor is tangier. You will want to take this into consideration when adding it to a recipe or using as a topping.  You can use a 1:1 ratio but consider the sour flavor when using as a substitution in recipes.

When Used As A Topping. 

• Neufchâtel, originally produced in Normandy, France, is going to be the closest replacement, so this is advised if you are using it as a topping, such as on toast or a bagel. Bonus, it is about 1/3 lower fat due to its being made with milk rather than cream. 
• Mascarpone is also a good possibility though it is significantly sweeter so you will want to take that into consideration when pairing with other toppings or bases.
• Quark,   made from buttermilk and heavy whipping cream, is a cream cheese originating in Germany. The consistency is similar, but the flavor is tangier.
• Hummus is not one I would consider and substitute as it’s completely different. However, if you wanted cream cheese on your toast or bagel but were out, it could definitely be used instead. Hummus is a chickpea-based spread that can be vegetarian or vegan and takes on the flavor based on whatever seasonings or additions it is made with.

Conclusion

Like many, I do love my cream cheese. I have found that many of these substitutions are just as wonderful, of not better, depending on what you are using them for.

If you require Cream Cheese and live in the areas of the recall, make sure you check the information above about the recalled products as well as the FDA recall page before you buy. Hy-Vee pulled these products before there were any illnesses which is amazing and I am glad to see that they take the protection of their communities and customers seriously.

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