A best-by date of Oct. 16, 2027, or earlier is the detail that matters on an 8-ounce package of Family Farmstead Dairy raw cheddar this week. The company, based in Worcester, New York, announced on Nov. 10, 2026, that it is recalling all of its cheddar cheese products.
The reason is potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, according to the company’s announcement posted by the FDA. The cheese was sold through retail stores in 12 states.
The Two Packages and the Date to Check
Two products are covered: Raw Mild Cheddar and Raw Sharp Cheddar, both sold in 8-ounce plastic wrap under the Family Farmstead brand. The FDA notice lists every lot code dated 10/16/27 and prior, which means any package carrying a best-by date of Oct. 16, 2027, or earlier.
The company said no other Family Farmstead Dairy products are included unless it specifically identifies them.
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The 12 States Where It Was Sold
The FDA notice says the cheese was distributed through retail stores in New York, New Jersey, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee.
Five of the 12 are in New England: Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. The rest run through the mid-Atlantic states and down to Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee.
One discrepancy is worth noting. The Food Safety News write-up of Nov. 11 names Maryland in the list where the FDA notice shows the abbreviation MA, which is Massachusetts. This article follows the FDA’s list. A shopper in Maryland who bought Family Farmstead cheese can confirm with the company using the contact details below.
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The Second Recall in About Four Weeks
This announcement follows an earlier one. The company also recalled certain raw cheddars on Oct. 15, 2026, because of potential contamination with E. coli O26:H11 and O45:H2, the FDA notice states. The Nov. 10 recall widens the action from certain products to all cheddar.
Food Safety News, which covers recalls, headlined its Nov. 11 report as the company recalling “more raw cheese.” The FDA also maintains a running page of recalls, market withdrawals and safety alerts where new notices appear as companies post them.
Because the two actions differ, the date printed on the package is the simplest guide. The Nov. 10 recall covers every cheddar product with a lot code or best-by date of 10/16/27 or earlier, so a package that was not part of the October recall can still be covered now.
The notice itself is brief. It lists the product names, the size, the packaging and the date range, then points consumers to the company’s phone line and email address. It does not list store names, so the best check is the package, not the receipt.
What to Do With the Cheese
The company said consumers who purchased the affected cheddar may return it to the place of purchase or contact Family Farmstead Dairy directly for assistance. The phone number is (607) 397-4044, answered Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the email address is [email protected].
The FDA’s guidance on refrigerator care recommends wiping up spills immediately, keeping refrigerated foods in covered containers or sealed bags, checking leftovers daily and cleaning the refrigerator out frequently as part of the regular kitchen routine, the FDA says. It also advises keeping the refrigerator at 40 degrees F or below.
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The FDA’s refrigerator page lists a few more routines. Avoid overpacking, since cold air must circulate around refrigerated foods, and discard anything past its use-by date. It also says perishable foods should not be left out for 2 hours or more.
Background on the Cheese and the Maker
Cheddar originates in the village of Cheddar in Somerset, England, where nearby caves in Cheddar Gorge offered steady humidity and temperature for maturing the cheese, Wikipedia explains. It is the second-most popular cheese in the United States behind mozzarella, with average annual consumption of about 10 pounds per person.
Traditionally, cheddar had to be made within about 30 miles of Wells Cathedral, Wikipedia adds. The company behind this recall is based in Worcester, a town in Otsego County, New York, Wikipedia notes, with a population of 2,220 at the 2010 census.
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Wikipedia adds that cheddar caves at Cheddar Gorge and Wookey Hole are still used to mature some cheddar today, and that the name “cheddar” is not protected under European Union or UK law, though “West Country Farmhouse Cheddar” has protected status.
The key facts fit in a sentence: 8-ounce Raw Mild and Raw Sharp Cheddar, all lot codes dated 10/16/27 and prior, sold in 12 states, to be returned to the store or handled through the company, with questions directed to (607) 397-4044.
This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.
Image: Cremastra – CC BY 4.0/Wikimedia Commons
