Highest risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Charlevoix Cheese Company Milk Cheddar Cheese recall: Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

Recall published 11 months ago

Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Charlevoix Cheese Company Dairy — recalled dairy
Photo published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Listeria contamination

Listeria is the reason this product was pulled, and it is the one food hazard where "it is still in date and it smells fine" tells you nothing at all.

What the notice says: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 17, 2025 – Boss Dairy Farms is voluntarily recalling one retail lot of Charlevoix Cheese Company 8oz Mild Cheddar Cheese because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes , an organism which can cause serious and sometime fatal health issues in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Why it matters: Listeria monocytogenes is unusual among foodborne bacteria because it keeps growing at refrigerator temperature. A contaminated pack does not become safer for sitting in the cold, and it will look, smell and taste completely normal.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

Listeriosis is mild or silent in most healthy adults, but it is serious for pregnant people, newborns, adults over 65 and anyone whose immune system is suppressed. The CDC describes intestinal illness as diarrhoea and vomiting, and invasive illness as fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions. In pregnancy it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or infection in the newborn even when the parent feels only mildly unwell. Symptoms can start within a day or not appear for weeks, so tell any doctor you see that you ate a recalled product and give them the date.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
December 17, 2025
Risk level
Highest risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Charlevoix Cheese Company
Product type
Dairy
Distribution
Michigan
UPC codes
850056642057
Reports of harm
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

Products covered by this recall

Milk Cheddar Cheese

What the company announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 17, 2025 – Boss Dairy Farms is voluntarily recalling one retail lot of Charlevoix Cheese Company 8oz Mild Cheddar Cheese because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes , an organism which can cause serious and sometime fatal health issues in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and still births among women.

Product was distributed in Michigan only through retail stores.

The recalled product (Brand Name: Charlevoix Cheese Company) comes in an 8oz block in clear plastic packaging with UPC 850056642057. It is marked on the back with lot number 13220025 and a best by date of 10/20/26.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by the company revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in an 8oz block of mild cheddar.

Consumers who purchased the affected product are urged to destroy it or return it to the store for a full refund.

Charlevoix Cheese Company is committed to producing the highest quality products and our top priority is the safety of our consumers. For this reason, we are initiating this voluntary recall of the product. Consumers with questions may contact the company at (231) 675-9902.

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 4 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

UPC / barcode

Read the twelve digits under the barcode on the package.

  • 850056642057

Lot or batch code

Usually ink-stamped near the seam, the cap or the bottom of the pack.

  • 13220025

Best-by / use-by date

Printed beside the lot code, not on the price sticker.

  • 10/20/26

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 8 oz

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Listeria

Charlevoix Cheese Company — Listeria is the reason this product was pulled, and it is the one food hazard where "it is still in date and it smells fine" tells you nothing at all.

  1. Do not eat it and do not open a sealed pack to inspect it — opening it only spreads the bacteria around your kitchen.
  2. Throw it out in a sealed bag, or return it to the store. Either is accepted; what matters is that nobody else eats it.
  3. Wash and then sanitise anything the food touched: the fridge shelf and drawer, chopping boards, knives, counters and your hands. Listeria colonises cold surfaces and can survive there after the food is gone.
  4. If anyone in the household is pregnant, over 65 or immunocompromised, call a clinician for advice even if nobody feels ill. That conversation is quick and it is the whole point of a Listeria recall.

How to get your money back

Food recalls carry a full refund, and in the United States you usually do not need the receipt or the packaging.

  • Take the product, or your photo of the label, to the customer service desk of the store where you bought it. Nearly every national grocer refunds recalled food on the spot.
  • Bought it online? Open the order in your account and use the refund option; marketplace sellers are required to honour a federal recall.
  • If the store refuses, contact the recalling company using the details on this page. The firm, not the shop, carries the cost of a recall.
  • If you have a loyalty card, the retailer can look the purchase up in your history — Kroger, Costco and Walmart all do this routinely.

Remedy named in the notice: Consumers who purchased the affected product are urged to destroy it or return it to the store for a full refund.

Company contact: Boss Dairy Farms — Consumers: (231) 675-9902

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Charlevoix Cheese Company dairy recalled?

Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 17, 2025 – Boss Dairy Farms is voluntarily recalling one retail lot of Charlevoix Cheese Company 8oz Mild Cheddar Cheese because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes , an organism which can cause serious and sometime fatal health issues in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: UPC 850056642057; lot code 13220025; best-by date 10/20/26. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

Do not eat it and do not open a sealed pack to inspect it — opening it only spreads the bacteria around your kitchen.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Consumers who purchased the affected product are urged to destroy it or return it to the store for a full refund.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Michigan.

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