Cheddar Cheese Recalled in 12 States Over Listeria Risk

Family Farmstead Dairy of Worcester, New York, is recalling all of its raw mild and raw sharp cheddar cheese because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the Food and Drug Administration said in a company announcement posted on Tuesday, 10 November.

The recall covers 8-ounce plastic-wrapped packages of both varieties with lot codes dated 16 October 2027 or earlier. The lot code is the best-by date printed on the back label. The cheese was sold through retail stores in 12 states: New York, New Jersey, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee.

No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recall, according to the announcement. The notice does not say how the possible contamination was found, or whether the concern came from finished cheese or from the production environment. The recall was reported by Medical Daily on 11 November.

What is being recalled

The recall covers two products, both sold in 8-ounce plastic-wrapped packages:

• Family Farmstead Raw Mild Cheddar, all lot codes dated 10/16/27 and earlier
• Family Farmstead Raw Sharp Cheddar, all lot codes dated 10/16/27 and earlier

Both are raw-milk cheeses, made from milk that has not been pasteurised. No UPC codes were listed in the announcement, so shoppers should check the date on the back label rather than a barcode. The company said no other Family Farmstead Dairy products are included in the recall unless it specifically identifies them.

Because aged cheddar keeps well, the best-by dates in this recall run to October 2027, which means recalled blocks could sit in home refrigerators for most of a year. Anyone who bought the cheese should check the date now, even if the purchase was weeks ago.

Second recall in 26 days

This is the dairy’s second cheddar recall in less than a month. On 15 October, the company recalled a single lot of Raw Mild Cheddar, lot code and best-by date 7/22/27, after testing found Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, strains O26:H11 and O45:H2. The FDA’s October notice said the E. coli was found in a surveillance sample tested in Maryland. No illnesses were reported then either.

The new action goes much further. It covers every date of both varieties on the shelf, adds sharp cheddar to the recall, expands the list of states to 12, and names a different germ. Neither notice names a cause for the contamination.

Why Listeria matters

Listeria monocytogenes is one of the more closely watched foodborne pathogens in the United States. The FDA says it can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Infection can cause fever and muscle aches and, in severe cases, can spread to the nervous system. It is most dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

Unlike many foodborne germs, Listeria can grow slowly even at refrigerator temperatures, which is why recalls of refrigerated foods are treated seriously and why checking dates matters even for cheese bought some time ago.

What shoppers should do

Shoppers who find a matching date should not eat the cheese. For more information, the company can be contacted at (607) 397-4044, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by email at [email protected].

The recall is the latest in a run of consumer-health actions involving state regulators. Retailers in the 12 affected states have been told to remove the cheese from sale, and the recall remains open while the company investigates the source of the contamination.