Made Fresh Salads Recalls Assorted Cream Cheeses Over Listeria Risk

BAY SHORE, N.Y. (February 20, 2026) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that Made Fresh Salads, Inc. is voluntarily recalling assorted flavors of its cream cheese and whipped tofu spreads due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. According to the FDA, regulators confirmed the recall after company testing revealed the pathogen on manufacturing equipment. The affected 5-pound tubs were distributed directly to retail stores and distributors throughout the New York City area.

Made Fresh Salads Recall: Quick Summary

Made Fresh Salads, Inc. has issued a regional recall for 14 varieties of its cream cheese and tofu spreads—including popular flavors like Scallion, Lox, and Jalapeno Cheddar. The recall was triggered after a routine sampling program discovered Listeria bacteria on a part of a mixer used in production. The products were delivered to retail locations and distributors across Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and the broader New York City area. No illnesses have been reported to date, but consumers and retailers are urged to discard or return the 5-pound tubs immediately.

What Happened?

The FDA said Made Fresh Salads initiated the recall after discovering a critical sanitation failure during environmental testing. The company told regulators it became aware of the issue when its routine sampling program revealed that a part of the mixer used to manufacture the finished spreads was contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. In response, the company has ceased production using the mixer in question and removed it from service.

In its recall alert, the FDA warned that “Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.”

Affected Products

The recall applies to the following products distributed in 5 lb. white plastic tubs with a “Made Fresh Salads” label. Expiration dates are marked in the bottom left corner of the label, generally through February 27, 2026 (with select tubs marked up to March 13, 2026).

Brand	Product	Size	Best By Date	Issue	Affected Zones
Made Fresh Salads	Apple Cinnamon Cream Cheese	5 lb. tub	Thru 2/27/26	Listeria	NYC Area (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx)
Made Fresh Salads	Caramel Apple Cream Cheese	5 lb. tub	Thru 2/27/26	Listeria	NYC Area (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx)
Made Fresh Salads	Blueberry Cream Cheese	5 lb. tub	Thru 2/27/26	Listeria	NYC Area (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx)
Made Fresh Salads	Garlic & Herb Cream Cheese	5 lb. tub	Thru 2/27/26	Listeria	NYC Area (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx)
Made Fresh Salads	Jalapeno Cream Cheese	5 lb. tub	Thru 2/27/26	Listeria	NYC Area (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx)
Made Fresh Salads	Jalapeno Cheddar Cream Cheese	5 lb. tub	Thru 2/27/26	Listeria	NYC Area (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx)
Made Fresh Salads	Lox Cream Cheese	5 lb. tub	Thru 2/27/26	Listeria	NYC Area (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx)
Made Fresh Salads	Scallion Cream Cheese	5 lb. tub	Thru 2/27/26	Listeria	NYC Area (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx)
Made Fresh Salads	Strawberry Cream Cheese	5 lb. tub	Thru 3/13/26	Listeria	NYC Area (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx)
Made Fresh Salads	Sundried Tomato Cream Cheese	5 lb. tub	Thru 2/27/26	Listeria	NYC Area (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx)
Made Fresh Salads	Vegetable Cream Cheese	5 lb. tub	Thru 2/27/26	Listeria	NYC Area (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx)
Made Fresh Salads	Walnut Raisin Cream Cheese	5 lb. tub	Thru 2/27/26	Listeria	NYC Area (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx)
Made Fresh Salads	Whipped Cream Cheese	5 lb. tub	Thru 2/27/26	Listeria	NYC Area (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx)
Made Fresh Salads	Whipped Tofu Spread	5 lb. tub	Thru 2/27/26	Listeria	NYC Area (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx)

What Caused the Issue?

According to the FDA notice, the recall was caused by equipment contamination involving Listeria monocytogenes, a hardy bacterium that thrives in cold, moist environments—making dairy processing facilities especially vulnerable.

Listeria causes listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women. While healthy individuals may recover in a few days, pregnant women are at severe risk, as the infection can pass to the fetus and lead to miscarriage or stillbirth. Symptoms can take up to 70 days to manifest and typically include high fever, muscle aches, nausea, and a stiff neck. The agency confirmed that no illnesses have been reported to date.

Questions You Might Have

1. What products are included in this recall? Fourteen flavors of cream cheese and tofu spreads sold in 5-pound tubs under the Made Fresh Salads brand.
2. Where were these products sold? They were distributed directly to retail stores, delis, and distributors in the New York City area (Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx).
3. How do I know if I have the recalled product? Check the label for the “Made Fresh Salads” brand and look for expiration dates ranging up through February 27, 2026 (or March 13, 2026, for Strawberry) in the bottom left corner.
4. Is it safe to eat if I freeze the cream cheese? No. Freezing does not kill Listeria. Do not consume the product.
5. How did the bacteria get into the food? A part of a mixer used in the facility tested positive for the bacteria, indicating environmental cross-contamination during production.
6. I ate a bagel from a local deli. Should I be worried? If you are in a high-risk group (pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised) and experience flu-like symptoms, contact your doctor. Because these are bulk 5-pound tubs, they are often used in foodservice settings.
7. Have any illnesses been reported? No. As of the FDA announcement, there have been zero reported illnesses linked to these products.
8. What should retailers do with the tubs? Retailers should immediately stop serving the product, sanitize any surfaces the tubs touched, and return them to the distributor for a refund.
9. What are the symptoms of Listeria infection? Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
10. How do I contact the company for a refund? Consumers and retailers can call Made Fresh Salads at 1-718-765-0082, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

Here’s What You Should Do

• Stop Serving or Consuming: Do not eat, sell, or serve the recalled cream cheese or tofu spread.
• Verify the Expiration Date: Check the bottom left corner of the tub for dates on or before February 27, 2026 (or March 13, 2026).
• Sanitize Surfaces: Listeria can survive in refrigerators. Thoroughly clean any shelves, utensils, or counters that came into contact with the tubs.
• Return for Refund: Bring the product back to the place of purchase or contact your distributor for a full refund.
• Contact the Brand: Direct questions to Made Fresh Salads at 1-718-765-0082.

Behind the Brand

Made Fresh Salads, Inc. is a Bay Shore, New York-based manufacturer that supplies bulk deli items, including cream cheeses and salads, primarily to the bustling New York City foodservice and retail market. Bulk distribution means their products are a staple in many local neighborhood eateries. The company’s recall notice states that it has ceased production using the affected mixer and removed it from service, demonstrating swift corrective action after their internal sampling protocols detected the pathogen.

Other Relevant Recalls

This cream cheese alert follows a steady string of recent contamination issues across various food sectors posted by Source86. In the seafood aisle, Slade Gorton recently recalled Wellsley Farms Atlantic Salmon due to a positive Listeria test. In the supplement category, Ambrosia Brands recalled Rosabella Moringa Capsules after a multistate Salmonella outbreak.

Labeling issues also continue to cause disruptions. JuneBar recently recalled its Chocolate Cherry snack bars due to undeclared milk and soy allergens. In the pet sector, Go Raw LLC recalled Quest Cat Food due to a life-threatening thiamine deficiency, while Viva Raw issued a massive alert for dog and cat food contaminated with both Salmonella and Listeria.

Food safety specialist Dr. Emily Carter notes:

“Equipment contamination is a notoriously difficult issue to eradicate once a biofilm forms. Mixers, with their intricate parts and deep crevices, require rigorous, validated sanitation standard operating procedures (SSOPs) to keep pathogens like Listeria from taking hold.”

Eran Mizrahi, CEO of Source86, said that while the Made Fresh Salads recall highlights a localized equipment failure, it also underscores a broader truth in the food industry:

“Food safety isn’t just about compliance; it’s about trust. Every recall reminds us how vital it is to maintain transparency, rigorous checks, and supplier accountability.”

Broader Pattern

The detection of Listeria monocytogenes on manufacturing equipment is a common precursor to Class I recalls in the dairy and ready-to-eat (RTE) food sectors. Because Listeria thrives in the cold, damp environments typical of dairy plants, environmental swabbing (testing the equipment and drains, rather than just the food) is heavily regulated. The fact that Made Fresh Salads caught this issue via routine sampling—rather than an outbreak of illnesses—shows that their environmental monitoring program was functioning, even if sanitation ultimately fell short.

Ensuring Safe Eats

Recalls involving bulk foodservice items have a compounding effect, as one contaminated tub can reach dozens of consumers at a local deli or bagel shop. This makes rapid communication between manufacturers, distributors, and retailers vital to public safety. Preventing these incidents requires constant vigilance over equipment hygiene and robust microbiological testing programs.

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.

For more information, to inquire about food safety solutions, or to report a concern, please visit our contact page at https://source86.com/contact/.