WASHINGTON, DC — Two varieties of Family Farmstead raw cheddar cheese are being recalled after federal regulators said the products may be contaminated with Listeria. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the cheeses were distributed to retail stores across 12 states, and shoppers are being urged to check their refrigerators for the affected packages.
The recall covers both mild and sharp cheddar in 8-ounce plastic-wrapped blocks. The FDA said the products were recalled by Family Farmstead Dairy, and the agency has posted packaging details in its enforcement report so customers can identify the items more easily.
Which Family Farmstead cheddar products are included in the recall
The recall applies to Family Farmstead Raw Mild Cheddar and Family Farmstead Raw Sharp Cheddar, both sold in 8-ounce plastic-wrapped packages. The FDA said all lot codes are included for each product.
Consumers should be especially alert if the cheese carries a best-by date of Oct. 16, 2027, or earlier. According to the agency, the recalled cheeses were distributed in New York, New Jersey, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee.
What Listeria can do and why food safety officials are concerned
So far, the FDA has not reported any illnesses tied to the recalled cheddar. Even so, the agency warned that food contaminated with Listeria can cause fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
For many healthy adults, the illness may be short-lived. But the FDA said Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. It can also lead to miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.
How shoppers can tell whether the cheese in their fridge is affected
Consumers who recently bought cheddar should look for the Family Farmstead name, the raw mild or raw sharp variety and the 8-ounce plastic-wrapped package. The best-by date is the quickest way to narrow it down, since products dated Oct. 16, 2027, and earlier are part of the recall.
The FDA also noted that additional packaging photos are available in its enforcement report. That can help shoppers compare labels, especially if the original store packaging is no longer available or the block has been moved to another container at home.
What to do if you have the recalled cheese at home
The FDA said people should not eat the recalled cheese. Instead, they should throw it away or return it to the store where it was purchased.
Anyone with questions can contact Family Farmstead Dairy directly at (607) 397-4044 or [email protected]. If someone has already eaten the recalled cheddar and has health concerns, the FDA advises calling a doctor right away.
Why this recall matters for households using cheddar every day
Cheddar is a common ingredient in everyday meals, which makes a recall like this easy to overlook if a block was bought for sandwiches, casseroles or snacks and then tucked into the back of the refrigerator. The FDA’s warning is meant to help households catch the product before it is used.
Because the recall spans a dozen states and covers all lot codes for the two affected cheeses, shoppers may need to check more than one package if they purchased cheese recently. Families with pregnant members, older adults or anyone with a weaker immune system may want to be especially cautious about verifying what is in the fridge.
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