Elevated risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Hilltop Meadow Farm Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese recall: Presence of Listeria monocytogenes

Recall published 2+ years ago

Presence of Listeria monocytogenes

The hazard: Listeria contamination

Because the organism here is Listeria, the recall is about where the food has been rather than how it looks today. Treat an affected pack as contaminated even if it is sealed and in date.

What the notice says: Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis , an illness which has symptoms including fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea.

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
November 22, 2023
Risk level
Elevated risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Hilltop Meadow Farm
Product type
Dairy
Distribution
Pennsylvania
Reports of harm
No reported illnesses have been attributed to the product, but people who consumed the Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese should consult their physicians if they become ill.

Products covered by this recall

Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese

What the company announced

“When a Government Agency Partner announces a company’s recall, market withdrawal, or safety alert, the FDA posts the Government Agency Partner’s announcement as a public service. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.”

11/22/2023

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture warns that consumers should discard "Hilltop Meadow Farm" brand '60 Day Aged Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese' with sell by dates of 9/21/2023 or earlier. Testing of this cheese confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese from Hilltop Meadow Farm, 153 martin Road, Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, is being voluntarily recalled by the farm, and was sold in ½ lb, 1 lb, 2.5 lb, and 5 lb sizes at their on-farm store and at the following locations:

Meadow Run Farms, 727 Rettew Mill Road, Littitz, Lancaster County

Shady Acres Farm Market, 8514 Elizabethtown Road, Elizabethtown, Lancaster County

Willow Haven Farm, 7686 Herber Road, New Tripoli, Leigh County

Healthy Habits Natural Market, 1120 Center Turnpike, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County

Little Leaf Natural Products, 505 S Main Street, Montrose, Susquehanna County

Whole Earth Center, 360 Nassau St, Princeton, New Jersey

Healthy Way, 396 S Main St, Massena, New York

Northstar Bison Store, 225 Birch Avenue, Cameron, Wisconsin

The tainted Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese is labeled with the Hilltop Meadow Farm label and designations "From A2/A2 Milk" and "Made from 100% Grassfed Cow's Milk" product descriptions.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis , an illness which has symptoms including fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea. Listeriosis mainly affects pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and adults with impaired immune systems. Listeriosis in pregnant women can result in miscarriage, premature delivery, serious infection of the newborn, or stillbirth.

No reported illnesses have been attributed to the product, but people who consumed the Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese should consult their physicians if they become ill.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's food safety inspection services help to ensure that food sold in Pennsylvania is safe. For more information about food safety in Pennsylvania, visit agriculture.pa.gov.

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

Best-by / use-by date

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

  • 9/21/2023

Model or item number

On the rating label, the box or the instruction sheet.

  • 505 S

Package size

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

  • 1 lb
  • 2.5 lb
  • 5 lb

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

Hilltop Meadow Farm — Because the organism here is Listeria, the recall is about where the food has been rather than how it looks today. Treat an affected pack as contaminated even if it is sealed and in date.

  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. 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.
  3. Photograph the label, the lot code and the date mark before the pack leaves the house — that picture is what a refund claim runs on.
  4. Throw it out in a sealed bag, or return it to the store. Either is accepted; what matters is that nobody else eats it.

Refunds, and what else you can claim

The purchase price is the floor, not the ceiling. Where a recall caused you a real cost, say so.

  • Claim the refund at the store first; it is the fastest route and needs the least paperwork.
  • If you bought several packs over time, list them. Firms routinely settle for more than a single unit when a customer asks.
  • Medical costs, lost earnings or a spoiled event are not handled at the service desk. Write to the company contact on this page instead, with dates and documents.
  • Keep copies of everything you send. If a recall caused harm, that file is what any later claim rests on.

Remedy named in the notice: Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture warns that consumers should discard "Hilltop Meadow Farm" brand '60 Day Aged Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese' with sell by dates of 9/21/2023 or earlier.

Company contact: Hilltop Meadow Farm

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 Hilltop Meadow Farm dairy recalled?

Presence of Listeria monocytogenes Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis , an illness which has symptoms including fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: best-by date 9/21/2023; model number 505 S. 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: Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture warns that consumers should discard "Hilltop Meadow Farm" brand '60 Day Aged Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese' with sell by dates of 9/21/2023 or earlier.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Pennsylvania.

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