Prairie Farms Recalls Gallon Fat Free Milk Over Potential Food-Grade Cleaning Agents

EDWARDSVILLE, IL (November 27, 2025) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Prairie Farms has voluntarily recalled specific lots of its Gallon Fat Free Milk. The recall was initiated because the product may contain food-grade cleaning agents, which could cause illness if consumed.

According to the FDA, Prairie Farms started the recall after an internal investigation found a potential quality issue. Prairie Farms sold approximately 320 gallons of the affected milk before discovering the issue. The company distributed the recalled milk exclusively to Woodman’s Markets stores in parts of Illinois and Wisconsin.

Prairie Farms recall: quick summary

The Prairie Farms Gallon Fat Free Milk recall is a precaution against potential illness from food-grade cleaning agents. Only milk with code date DEC08 and plant code PLT19-145, produced from 17:51 to 21:23 at the Dubuque, Iowa, facility, is affected. Consumers who bought this specific product at a Woodman’s Market should not drink it and must dispose of or return it for a refund. Prairie Farms is partnering with the FDA and Woodman’s Markets on the investigation.

What happened?

Prairie Farms issued the recall on November 25, 2025, after discovering a quality issue on November 24. The affected product is Gallon Fat Free Milk (Code Date DEC08, Plant Code PLT19-145, UPC 7273023117) produced between 17:51 and 21:23 at the Dubuque, Iowa, facility. The recall occurred because the product potentially contains residual food-grade cleaning agents; Prairie Farms limited distribution to Woodman’s Markets in Illinois and Wisconsin. The FDA warned that the agents “may cause illness if consumed,” and the agency confirmed that workers removed the product from shelves.

Affected products

Brand	Product	Size	UPC	Best by date	Issue	Affected states or zones
Prairie Farms	Gallon Fat Free Milk	Gallon	7273023117	DEC08	Potential cleaning agents	Illinois and Wisconsin

What caused the issue?

The potential presence of food-grade cleaning agents (which operators use in equipment sanitation) in the milk caused the issue, and these agents can cause illness. The FDA confirmed that consuming these agents “may cause illness,” typically leading to gastrointestinal distress like nausea or vomiting. Prairie Farms officials stated the issue was limited to a specific production segment, and the agency confirmed that no illnesses have been reported so far.

Questions you might have

Here’s what you should do

Consumers who have purchased the affected Prairie Farms Gallon Fat Free Milk should take the following steps immediately:

• What to do with the product: Do not consume the milk. Consumers may safely dispose of it in a sealed trash container or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
• How to identify the affected product: Check the container for the code date DEC08 and the plant code PLT19-145, along with the UPC 7273023117.
• Brand contact details for questions or refunds: Consumers with questions may contact Prairie Farms Dairy via email at [email protected].

Behind the brand

Prairie Farms, a major farmer-owned dairy cooperative with a long history in the Midwest and South, operates and runs the Dubuque, Iowa, facility, which produced the recalled milk. The company stated it has “ceased distribution of the affected product” and is working closely with regulators and Woodman’s Markets to investigate the issue.

In a statement shared with Source86, Prairie Farms confirmed that only “a specific segment of the DEC08 production run” was affected and that the issue stems from “food-grade cleaning agents” that may have entered the milk during processing. According to the company, the impacted window covers product manufactured between 17:51 and 21:23 at the Dubuque facility. As a precaution, Prairie Farms is recalling all Gallon Fat Free Milk with the DEC08 code date and PLT19-145 plant code produced during that timeframe. The recalled product carries UPC 7273023117.

Other relevant recalls

This type of issue, while concerning, is not unique in the food industry. Similar contamination events have occurred, often related to temporary breakdowns in sanitation or production line checks. Source86 has covered several comparable incidents recently, including the large-scale Cargill recall of over 100 tons of liquid egg products due to contamination from cleaning solution, which is highly similar.

“A breakdown in the sanitation process, particularly the rinsing step, is the most frequent cause of chemical contamination in beverages like milk,” said Dr. Darin Detwiler, a U.S.-based food safety author and academic specializing in regulatory compliance. “When the necessary verification steps are missed—the checks that confirm all residual sanitizers have been flushed out—that’s when a system failure turns into a consumer hazard.”

Eran Mizrahi, CEO of Source86, said that while the Prairie Farms recall highlights a single contamination issue, 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.”

Regulatory context

This recall is part of a broader trend of contamination and mislabeling issues impacting U.S. retailers, highlighting the ongoing challenge of quality control in high-volume food production. However, the swift response by Prairie Farms and the FDA’s rapid communication demonstrates an effective process for minimizing consumer risk once they discover a product defect.

Ensuring safe eats

The Prairie Farms recall highlights that a single lapse in the sanitation cycle can create major safety issues. It reinforces that preventative controls and rigorous process verification are essential. Companies must invest in automated monitoring and staff training. Consumers, in turn, must heed recall notices and check product codes, disposing of or returning the recalled Gallon Fat Free Milk for a refund.

We help food brands manage ingredient sourcing, FSQA oversight, and private label production with transparency and precision at Source86. This ensures that supply chains are prepared to respond quickly when recalls happen. Contact us.