This late-breaking alert encompasses four of the most popular flavors under four brands, dogged by another food poisoning concern.
Pre-sliced and “cracker cut” snack-sized cheese make food prep quick and more options continue to meet the market, but some shoppers are mindful of the anti-caking agents that are used in many cheese products marketed for consumer convenience. If you like that old-school block, even better if it comes straight from a farm, the FDA issued a warning Monday night on cheese produced in a well known agricultural area.
Middlefield Original Cheese Cheese Co-Op, located a reported 30 miles outside Cleveland in Ohio, has voluntarily recalled the following quantities of the following cheese flavors produced between June 16 and July 16 of this year, distributed as recently as August 7 and totaling approximately 5,433 pounds:
- 4,544.5 lbs. of White Cheddar Cheese appearing to be under Farmers Cheese brand – 8 oz. packages and 5 lb. blocks with Lot Code 251672; 40 lb. blocks with dates coded as 7-16-25B
- 246.5 lbs. of 100% Grass-fed Pepper Jack Cheese under brands Copia Collective and Middlefield Original sold in 8 oz. packages, 5 lb. loaves and 40 lb. loaves with lot number 251661
- 640 lbs. of Middlefield Original Cheese Co-Op Monterey Jack Cheese sold in 8 oz. packages, 5 lb. loaves with lot code 251672 and 40 lb. blocks with dates coded as 7-16-25B
- 2.5 lbs. of Middlefield Original Cheese Co-op Horseradish Flavored Cheese sold in 8 oz. packages with lot dode 2524061
It’s reported the cheese may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, which the FDA describes in its alert as “an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.” The notice reveals the issue was discovered when the co-op performed their own testing and have paused production as they investigate the source.
It’s said these products were shipped to distributors, manufacturers, and retail accounts in Ohio. States the alert: “Any customers with this product in their possession should dispose of it or return it to the retail location during normal business hours for a refund.” A contact number for the company is also provided in the FDA link.
A brief online search suggests Middlefield Original Cheese Co-Op is comprised of Amish members by 98%.
This follows a recall on three cheese products announced last week, one for reported “rodent activity” that led to food safety concerns.
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