About the Recalled Product
The recalled product is an 8-ounce block of Charlevoix Cheese Company Mild Cheddar Cheese in plastic packaging, bearing UPC 850056642057, lot number 13220025, and a best-by date of October 20, 2026. The cheese was produced by Boss Dairy Farms and sold at Michigan retail stores.
Latest Updates
Boss Dairy Farms announced the voluntary recall on December 17, 2025, and the FDA published the recall notice on December 18, 2025, after company testing confirmed Listeria monocytogenes in a single block from the affected lot [1]. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled cheese [2]. The FDA has since completed and terminated the recall [1].
How the Contamination Was Discovered
The Listeria contamination was identified by Boss Dairy Farms through its own routine in-house testing — not through a consumer complaint or illness report. Finding a confirmed pathogen during routine quality control testing is precisely what those programs are designed to catch, but it also raises questions about how the contaminated lot progressed through production and into retail distribution before the testing result was returned.
A positive Listeria result in one block from a lot does not necessarily mean only that block was affected. Environmental persistence is a defining characteristic of Listeria monocytogenes: once established in a production environment, the pathogen can cross-contaminate multiple units within the same lot and resurface in subsequent production runs if the source is not eliminated.
The Listeria Risk in Cheddar Cheese
Unlike soft cheeses — which are more commonly associated with Listeria outbreaks — hard cheeses like mild cheddar carry a lower but non-zero risk of contamination. When Listeria is detected in a hard cheese, it typically indicates contamination occurring after pasteurization, during aging or packaging — the same window in which cross-contamination from a persistent environmental source would most likely occur.
Listeriosis causes fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, and gastrointestinal illness. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or life-threatening illness in the newborn; in the elderly and immunocompromised, it can spread to the nervous system and bloodstream and become fatal.
A Long Best-By Date Extends Consumer Exposure
The recalled product carries a best-by date of October 20, 2026 — nearly eleven months after the recall was announced. A consumer who purchased the cheese in late November or early December 2025 and stored it for later use could still have it in their refrigerator months after the recall without any visible sign of spoilage. Unlike products with short shelf lives, a cheddar block with a year-long best-by date can outlast consumer awareness of the recall by a significant margin.
Reported Illnesses
No illnesses had been reported in connection with the recalled cheese as of the FDA’s December 2025 notice. Listeria’s incubation period can range from three days to ten weeks, meaning illness from exposure could present weeks after consumption and may not be immediately linked to this product by affected individuals or their physicians.
Can I File a Lawsuit?
If you developed listeriosis after consuming Charlevoix Cheese Company Mild Cheddar Cheese from the recalled lot, you may have a product liability claim against Boss Dairy Farms. Contact an attorney promptly, as state filing deadlines apply.
What to Do Now
Do not eat any Charlevoix Cheese Company Mild Cheddar Cheese with UPC 850056642057, lot number 13220025, and best-by date of October 20, 2026 — discard the product or return it to the retailer for a full refund. Contact Boss Dairy Farms at (231) 675-9902 for further assistance.
References
1. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/boss-dairy-farms-voluntarily-recalls-retail-mild-cheddar-cheese-because-possible-health-risk
2. https://foodpoisoningbulletin.com/2025/charlevoix-mild-cheddar-cheese-recalled-for-possible-listeria/
3. https://www.newsweek.com/cheese-recall-sparks-new-warning-to-customers-in-michigan-11241044