Boss Dairy Farms Recalls Charlevoix Mild Cheddar Cheese Over Listeria Concerns

CHARLEVOIX, Mich. (December 18, 2025) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that Boss Dairy Farms is voluntarily recalling a specific lot of its Charlevoix Cheese Company Mild Cheddar Cheese due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. According to the FDA, the recall was initiated after routine product testing revealed the presence of the pathogen in an 8-ounce block of the cheese. State regulators warned that while no illnesses have been reported to date, the organism can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in vulnerable populations.

Charlevoix Cheese Recall: Quick Summary

Boss Dairy Farms, a farmstead creamery based in Charlevoix, Michigan, has issued a recall for a single retail lot of its 8-ounce Mild Cheddar Cheese. The recall was triggered after internal testing detected Listeria monocytogenes in the finished product. The affected cheese was distributed exclusively to retail stores within the state of Michigan. Consumers who have purchased this specific lot are urged not to consume it and to discard it immediately or return it to the point of purchase for a full refund.

What Happened?

The FDA reported that Boss Dairy Farms initiated the recall after routine testing by the company revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in a finished 8-ounce block of mild cheddar. The company acted quickly to voluntarily recall the specific lot involved. The affected product is packaged in clear plastic and was distributed only to retailers in Michigan.

In its recall alert, the FDA warned that Listeria “can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems”. The agency confirmed that there have been no confirmed reports of illness connected to this problem so far.

Affected Products

Brand	Product	Size	UPC	Lot Number	Best By Date	Issue
Charlevoix Cheese Company	Mild Cheddar Cheese	8 oz block	850056642057	13220025	10/20/26	Listeria

What Caused the Issue?

According to the recall notice, the issue was identified during the company’s routine testing protocols, which flagged a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes in the cheese. Listeria is a hardy bacterium found in moist environments, soil, and water, and it can survive and even grow under refrigeration.

Company officials said in the statement that:

“Charlevoix Cheese Company is committed to producing the highest quality products and our top priority is the safety of our consumers”.

The primary health risk is listeriosis, an infection that can cause symptoms like high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. It is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, as it can cause miscarriages and stillbirths.

Questions You Might Have

1. What specific cheese is recalled?Charlevoix Cheese Company 8oz Mild Cheddar Cheese.
2. How do I identify the recalled lot?Look for Lot Number 13220025 and a Best By date of 10/20/26 on the back of the package.
3. Where was it sold?It was sold exclusively at retail stores in Michigan.
4. Has anyone gotten sick?No illnesses have been reported to date.
5. Can I just cut off the outside of the cheese?No, Listeria contamination can exist throughout the product or cross-contaminate surfaces; discard the entire block.
6. What are the symptoms of Listeria?Fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and gastrointestinal symptoms.
7. Is this the only product affected?Yes, currently only this specific lot of 8oz Mild Cheddar is included in the recall.
8. Can I get a refund?Yes, you can return the product to the store where you bought it for a full refund.
9. Who can I contact?You can contact the company at (231) 675-9902 for questions.
10. How serious is this recall?The FDA classifies Listeria risks seriously (Class I) because of the potential for severe health consequences, especially for vulnerable groups.

Here’s What You Should Do

• Check your fridge: Look for “Charlevoix Cheese Company Mild Cheddar” in an 8oz clear plastic package.
• Verify the numbers: Check the back for Lot 13220025 and Best By 10/20/26.
• Dispose safely: If you have the product, throw it away in a sealed container so no one else can eat it.
• Sanitize: Clean and sanitize your refrigerator drawers or shelves where the cheese was stored to prevent cross-contamination.
• Return for refund: Take the product (or receipt) back to the retailer for a refund.

Behind the Brand

Boss Dairy Farms is a family-owned operation in Charlevoix, Michigan, with roots in the area dating back to 1903. The farm milks approximately 230 Holstein cows and prides itself on being a “true farmstead creamery,” meaning they use milk exclusively from their own herd to produce their artisan cheeses. The company emphasizes sustainable farming and “vertical integration,” managing every step from growing feed to crafting the final cheese product hours after milking.

Other Relevant Recalls

This incident is part of a series of recent dairy and food safety alerts. In late November 2025, The Ambriola Company recalled select Locatelli and Boar’s Head cheeses due to Listeria risks. Additionally, Great Lakes Cheese Co. issued a massive recall for shredded cheese sold at major retailers like Target and Walmart due to potential metal fragment contamination. In the frozen food sector, Primavera Nueva Inc. recalled tamales in December 2025 due to potential Listeria contamination in a frozen ingredient.

In a major enforcement action involving imported specialty cheeses, The Ambriola Company recalled its Pecorino Romano products following confirmed Listeria findings. The recall, announced in late November 2025, affects multiple high-profile brands including Locatelli, Boar’s Head, and Member’s Mark distributed nationwide. Like the Boss Dairy Farms situation, this alert was triggered after routine sampling identified the pathogen, necessitating a swift withdrawal of products sold between early and mid-November.

Eran Mizrahi, CEO of Source86, noted regarding recent outbreaks:

“We are seeing more and more Listeria cases lately, and it’s not necessarily because food is less safe nowadays, but more because there are new and better detection technologies and, while that’s good for consumers, it also exposes gaps in process control”.

Ensuring Safe Eats

Listeria is a persistent challenge in the dairy industry because it thrives in the cool, moist environments typical of cheese production facilities. While farmstead creameries like Boss Dairy Farms offer high-quality, local products, they are not immune to these environmental pathogens. Consumers should stay vigilant by checking recall alerts regularly and maintaining clean kitchen environments to reduce infection risks.

At Source86, we help food brands manage ingredient sourcing, FSQA oversight, and private label production with transparency and precision, ensuring that when recalls happen, supply chains are prepared to respond quickly. Contact Us!