Northeast Ohio cheese company issues recall over potential Listeria contamination

MIDDLEFIELD, Ohio (WOIO) - The Middlefield Original Cheese Co-Op recalled numerous products due to the potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes.

The products recalled by the Middlefield facility were produced on May 30 and Aug. 13 of 2025, according to the FDA.

The FDA said the products were distributed in:

• Ohio
• Minnesota
• Texas
• Wisconsin

They were sent out to those states between July 7-Aug. 14 and sold through distributors, dining halls, and retail stores, the FDA listed.

The FDA stated the recall only affects these products with specific lot codes/sell by dates:

The sell by date and lot code for Sunrise Creamery products are on the side of each individual package.

The sell by date for Middlefield Original Cheese Co-op products are printed on stickers placed on each 5 lb. loaf, or on the box of 5 lb. bags of shredded cheese.

The recall was announced by the company on Sept. 5 and published by the FDA on Sept. 8.

The FDA said the Middlefield Original Cheese Co-Op initiated the recall after the company’s testing detected Listeria monocytogenes in finished product and cutting equipment surfaces.

Listeria monocytogenes is “an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems,” the FDA defined. “Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women."

The FDA confirmed there have been no reports of illnesses from consumers of these products.

Customers who have any of these recalled items should throw it out or return it to the retail location they bought it from for a refund.