Whole Foods is recalling cheeses sold in a handful of states over a potentially deadly labeling error.
According to a Sept. 11 notice from the Food and Drug Administration, the recalled cheeses contain egg lysozyme, an egg white protein, that was not disclosed on the products' labels. This could pose a risk to people with allergies or a severe sensitivity to eggs, including potentially life-threatening allergic reactions.
No illnesses have been reported in relation to the recall, which the grocery store chain initiated after its staff discovered the error. While the cheese has been removed from shelves, its best-by dates extend into October, meaning it could still be in customers' kitchens.
Here's what to know.
Which Whole Foods products were recalled?
The cheeses were sold at speciality
cheese counters at Whole Foods locations in several states. The cheese is cut and wrapped in plastic with scale label stickers.
- Whole Foods Fromagerie Coop de Mean Cabricharme Raw Milk – Aged 60 days; PLU code 57953; best-by dates up to and including 10/7/2026
- Whole Foods Belgian Cabricharme; PLU code 54670; best-by dates up to and including 10/7/2026
Where was the recalled Whole Foods cheese sold?
The cheese was sold at 18 known Whole Foods locations in the following states:
- Arizona
- California
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New York
- Rhode Island
What to do with recalled cheese
Consumers should not eat the cheese and should dispose of it, per the FDA. No return is necessary. Instead, customers can receive a full refund with a valid receipt from the place of purchase.
Wash and sanitize any surfaces or tools that could have come in contact with the affected cheese, especially if you have an egg allergy or sensitivity, the FDA advises.
Raw dairy and food safety
Even without mislabeling, cheeses and dairy products made with raw or unpasteurized milk can increase the risk of foodborne illnesses. Raw milk is one of two foods, along with sprouts,that the FDA issues blanket advisories against eating. Many soft cheeses, like cabricharme, are made with raw dairy and should be consumed with caution by healthy people and avoided by people at risk, such as those with compromised immune systems or who are pregnant, per the FDA.
The pasteurization process, or heating milk to rid it of harmful germs, became routine in the United States' commercial milk supply in the 1920s and was widespread by the 1950s. As a result, illnesses commonly spread via milk became less prevalent.
While misinformation about the process has led some to believe that pasteurized milk is less nutritious or better for people with lactose intolerance, the process does not significantly compromise its nutritional value or milk content. In some states, selling raw milk directly to a consumer is illegal.
Raw milk and products made from it can carry harmful bacteria, such as salmonella, E. coli, listeria and Staphylococcus aureus, among several others. These bacteria can cause a host of ailments, including listeriosis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, diphtheria, Guillain-Barré syndrome, miscarriage, brucellosis, chronic inflammatory conditions, reactive arthritis and death.
Many cheeses that were traditionally made with raw dairy now come in both pasteurized and unpasteurized forms. They can be relatively safe and tasty as long as you know your risk tolerance and check your labels.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Whole Foods recalls cheese sold in these 7 states. See affected items
