Family Farmstead Dairy Raw Cheddar Recalled Over Possible Listeria

Family Farmstead Dairy is recalling all of its raw cheddar cheese products with best-by dates on or before October 16, 2027. The reason this time is possible listeria contamination. The FDA posted the recall notice on Tuesday, November 10.

The cheese went to retail stores in 12 states. The company asks anyone who has it not to eat it and to return it for a refund.

This Is the Second Recall in a Month

If the name sounds familiar, it should. Back on October 15, the dairy recalled a batch of raw cheddar over two strains of E. coli. That recall covered 8-ounce packages of Raw Mild Cheddar with lot code 7/22/27 and a best-by date of July 22, 2027. It went to grocery stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, and Massachusetts. No illnesses or reactions were reported.

The new recall is much bigger. The October one covered a single lot. This one covers everything with a best-by date through mid-October 2027.

Which Products Are Included

According to the FDA notice, two products are part of the recall:

• 8-ounce plastic-wrapped Raw Mild Cheddar

• 8-ounce plastic-wrapped Raw Sharp Cheddar

Every lot code with a best-by date on or before October 16, 2027 is included. No other products are part of the November recall.

Where It Was Sold

The recalled cheese went to stores in these 12 states:

• Connecticut

• Delaware

• Massachusetts

• New Hampshire

• New Jersey

• New York

• Pennsylvania

• Rhode Island

• Tennessee

• Vermont

• Virginia

• West Virginia

In its announcement, the company thanked its distributors, retailers, and customers for their cooperation. It apologized for the inconvenience and said it remains committed to making safe, high-quality dairy products.

Why Listeria Is a Big Deal

Listeria can cause serious infections, and sometimes they’re fatal. Healthy people may only get a short-term illness. But some groups face real danger.

The people at highest risk are:

• Pregnant people and their unborn or newborn babies

• Adults 65 and older

• People with weakened immune systems, including transplant recipients and people with HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, or autoimmune diseases

For pregnant women, a listeria infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or a life-threatening infection in a newborn. That’s why doctors tell expectant mothers to be careful with certain foods, including raw milk products.

Symptoms to Watch For

According to the recall notice, listeria symptoms may include:

• High fever

• Severe headache

• Stiffness

• Nausea

• Abdominal pain

• Diarrhea

If you ate the cheese and you’re in one of the higher-risk groups, call your doctor even if you feel fine. If you’ve got symptoms, don’t wait.

What to Do If You Have It

Check your fridge. If you have an 8-ounce package of Family Farmstead raw mild or sharp cheddar, look at the best-by date. If it’s October 16, 2027 or earlier, it’s part of the recall. Don’t eat it. Return it to the store where you bought it for a refund.

If you have questions, you can email the company at customerservice@familyfarmsteaddairy.com or call 607-397-4044.

A Few More Things Worth Knowing

Listeria can take a while to show up. Symptoms don’t always start right away. They can appear days or even weeks after someone eats contaminated food. So if you ate this cheese recently, keep an eye out.

It can grow in the cold. Unlike a lot of bacteria, listeria can keep growing at refrigerator temperatures. That’s one reason it shows up in recalls involving ready-to-eat foods like cheese.

Clean up after it. If you’ve had the cheese in your fridge, wipe down the shelves, drawers, and containers it touched with hot, soapy water. Then wash your hands.

About Raw Milk Cheese

Raw milk cheese is made from milk that hasn’t been pasteurized. Pasteurization is a heating step that kills many disease-causing germs. Raw milk products can carry harmful bacteria, and the FDA recommends choosing pasteurized dairy to lower the risk of foodborne illness.

For most healthy adults, many people accept that tradeoff. For pregnant women, older adults, and anyone with a weakened immune system, it’s worth thinking twice.

The Bottom Line

Two recalls in about a month is a lot for one small dairy. Right now, the safest move is simple. Check the date, and if it’s in range, don’t eat it.

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