Cheese Recall as 'Serious' Contamination Warning Issued
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An Ohio-based company has issued a voluntary recall for various cheese products due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said.
Middlefield Original Cheese Co-Op announced the recall for various lots of five products on August 18 after contamination was found during its own testing.
Newsweek reached out to Middlefield Original Cheese Co-op for comment by phone outside of regular working hours.
Why It Matters
The FDA warned that Listeria "can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems."
Listeria infection, or listeriosis, may lead to a range of symptoms in infected individuals. For those experiencing less severe infections, symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which often last between one and three days, the FDA said.
For more severe and potentially life-threatening infections, symptoms may include headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.
Severe infections can also lead to miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.
Stock image of a chef displaying cheese cubes.
Stock image of a chef displaying cheese cubes.
Sebastian Gollnow/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
What To Know
The products impacted by the recall are the following:
Middlefield Original Cheese Co-op 100% Grass-Fed Pepper Jack Cheese - eight-ounce packages, five-pound loaves, and 40-pound loaves - lot code: 251661
Copia Collective 100% Grass-Fed Pepper Jack Cheese - eight-ounce packages - lot code: 251661
Middlefield Original Cheese Co-op Horseradish Flavored Cheese - eight-ounce packages - lot code: 2524061
Middlefield Original Cheese Co-op Monterey Jack Cheese - eight-ounce packages and five-pound blocks with lot code: 251672 - 40-pound blocks with dates coded as 7-16-25B
Farmers Cheese - eight-ounce packages and five-pound blocks with lot code: 251672 - 40-pound blocks with dates coded as 7-16-25B
The products were produced on June 16, 2025, June 24, 2025, and July 16, 2025. They were shipped to manufacturers, distributors and retail stores in Ohio between July 14, 2025, and August 7, 2025, according to the FDA.
The recall was initiated after testing conducted by the company revealed the presence of Listeria in the products. The company halted production while investigations were carried out, which revealed that the listeria came from environmental contamination that spread to food-contact areas.
As of August 18, no illnesses had been reported in connection with the consumption of the recalled products.
What People Are Saying
Mary O'Riordan, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Michigan Medical School, previously told Newsweek: "Listeria has an unusual capacity to grow at refrigerated temperatures. Although the bacterium can contaminate many types of food, cheeses or deli meats that are kept in cold storage for long periods in stores or at home are a place where listeria can keep growing.
"Early symptoms of listeria infection look similar to other common foodborne infections, including fever, diarrhea and vomiting, so it's often not diagnosed right away. Unfortunately, sometimes listeria can spread into the brain and cause more serious illness, like meningitis. In those cases, if people experience headache, stiff neck or confusion, they should seek urgent medical attention."
Haley F. Oliver, a professor of food science at Purdue University, previously told Newsweek: "Listeria monocytogenes is a common microorganism that can be found in the natural environment, for example, in soil. There are many factors that determine if someone gets listeriosis—a listeria infection. In most instances, an immunocompromised person—so young, old, pregnant or otherwise immunocompromised—must eat contaminated food.
"The number of bacteria resulting in infection and the amount of time before illness varies considerably. Symptoms vary among people but can include fever, flu-like symptoms, headache, stiff neck, confusion and loss of balance."
The FDA says on its website: "Pregnant women and their unborn or newborn baby, adults over the age of 65, and those with weakened immune systems, are all considered to be high-risk groups that are susceptible to the serious and adverse effects of listeriosis."
What Happens Next
The recall is ongoing, according to the FDA.
Customers who purchased the recalled products should dispose of them or return them to their place of purchase for a refund.
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