Middlefield Original Cheese Recall Lawsuit | 2026 Latest Updates

Middlefield Original Cheese Co-op, based in Middlefield, Ohio, issued two voluntary recalls in 2025. Testing found Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause serious illness, in its cheese products.

The first recall, announced August 18, 2025, covered several cheese varieties sold only in Ohio. Those included Pepper Jack, Horseradish Flavored, and Monterey Jack. The FDA lists that recall as complete and terminated.

A second recall expanded to more varieties, including a Sunrise Creamery item, sold in Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Texas. That recall’s notice does not say it has ended. The cheese should be thrown out or returned for a refund.

Latest Middlefield Original Cheese Recall Updates

September 8, 2025: FDA Publishes Expanded Recall in Four States

Middlefield Original Cheese Co-op announced an expanded recall on September 5, 2025, which the FDA published September 8, 2025 [1]. The company found Listeria monocytogenes on cutting-equipment surfaces during testing.

The recall added Organic Gouda, Cheddar, Mozzarella/Provolone, Swiss, and more Pepper Jack and Monterey Jack cheese. It also added Sunrise Creamery Dilly Pickle Monterey Jack cheese to the four-state recall. No illnesses have been reported.

August 18, 2025: FDA Announces Original Ohio Recall

Middlefield Original Cheese Co-op announced its first recall on August 18, 2025, after finding Listeria monocytogenes in its cheese [2]. The recall covered three cheese varieties sold in Ohio.

The cheese was sold at stores in Ohio, Jul 14-Aug 7, 2025, under Lots 251661, 2524061, and 251672. The FDA’s notice for this first recall, dated August 18, 2025, confirms the agency has closed and terminated it.

Which Middlefield Original Cheese Products Are Affected?

Two recalls affected several Middlefield Original Cheese Co-op products in 2025, sold under these names, sizes, lot numbers, and sell-by dates:

• Recall #1 (Ohio only): Middlefield Original Cheese Co-op / Copia Collective 100% Grass-Fed Pepper Jack Cheese, 8 oz/5 lb/40 lb, Lot 251661.
• Recall #1 also covered Horseradish Flavored Cheese, 8 oz in size, under Lot 2524061.
• Middlefield Original Cheese Co-op / Farmers Cheese Monterey Jack Cheese, 8 oz and 5 lb blocks, Lot 251672.
• Monterey Jack Cheese also comes in 40 lb blocks, dated 7-16-25B.
• Recall #2 (Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Texas): Colored Cheddar, Swiss, Pepper Jack, and Monterey Jack in 5 lb loaves, and Organic Gouda in an 8 oz size, all sell-by 2/13/2026.
• Recall #2 additionally covered Cheddar, Pepper Jack, Monterey Jack, and Mozzarella/Provolone in 5 lb shredded bags, sell-by 9/3/2025.
• Sunrise Creamery Dilly Pickle Monterey Jack with Pickles, Lot 253054: 6 oz packages sell-by 1-7-26, 1-11-26, or 2-16-26, and a 1.25 lb package sell-by 12-30-25.

Why Was Middlefield Original Cheese Recalled?

Middlefield Original Cheese was recalled because company testing found Listeria monocytogenes in its cheese. The bacteria also turned up on cutting-equipment surfaces used during production. Environmental contamination that reached food-contact areas caused the equipment findings, the company’s own testing showed.

The FDA describes Listeria monocytogenes as an organism that can cause serious, sometimes fatal infections, the bacterium behind Middlefield’s two 2025 recalls.

The first recall, in August 2025, involved three Ohio-only cheese varieties. The second, in September 2025, expanded to more varieties. No illnesses have been linked to the contamination so far. The company paused production after finding the bacteria.

Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses

Neither FDA notice for Middlefield Original Cheese reports any illnesses linked to the recalled products. The August 18, 2025, notice and the September 8, 2025, notice both state that no illnesses had been reported as of those dates.

No illness reports do not prove that no one was harmed. The two recalls combined covered cheese sold across four states to both retail and food-service customers.

Anyone who ate the recalled cheese and later became sick can report the illness to the FDA. They can also contact the state health department. Reports help track potential outbreaks and guide any future recall actions.

What Should Consumers Do?

If you have any of the recalled Middlefield Original Cheese products, take the following steps:

1. Check your cheese against the product names, lot numbers, and sell-by dates listed above to see whether it was recalled.
2. Do not eat any recalled cheese. Throw it away or return it to the store where you bought it for a refund.
3. Contact Middlefield Original Cheese Co-op General Manager Nevin Byler at 440-632-5567, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time, with questions about the recall.
4. Report any suspected reaction to the recalled cheese to the FDA at 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332).
5. Watch for fever, headache, stiff neck, confusion, or loss of balance, which the CDC lists as signs of a Listeria infection. Contact a doctor right away if you are pregnant, 65 or older, or immunocompromised [3].

Legal Options

No lawsuit, class action, multidistrict litigation, or settlement has been filed over the Middlefield Original Cheese recalls. A recall does not automatically establish liability or eligibility for compensation.

Schmidt & Clark is reviewing potential Listeria monocytogenes claims for people sickened by the recalled cheese. Anyone in that situation may want to learn more about a listeria lawsuit.

Filing Deadlines

Deadlines for filing a legal claim after a foodborne illness vary by state law and often depend on individual circumstances and timing.

The clock often starts when the illness or exposure occurred, though some states start it at diagnosis instead. Even a strong claim can be lost if its filing deadline is missed.

Anyone sickened by the recalled cheese should speak with a lawyer promptly to learn the exact deadline that applies to their case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Middlefield Original Cheese Recall Still Active?

The Middlefield Original Cheese recall situation has two parts. The first recall, covering three Ohio cheese varieties, is completed and terminated, according to the FDA. As of September 26, 2026, the FDA has announced no termination date for the second, four-state recall.

What Are the Symptoms of a Listeria Infection from This Cheese?

A Listeria infection from the recalled Middlefield cheese can cause symptoms like fever, flu-like illness, and sometimes seizures, per the CDC. It is usually mild in pregnant people themselves, but can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or life-threatening newborn infection. It hits young children, older adults, and people with weakened immunity hardest.

Has a Middlefield Original Cheese Recall Lawsuit Been Filed?

No lawsuit, class action, or settlement connected to the Middlefield Original Cheese recall was found in records searched September 26, 2026. Law firms describe only an investigation into potential claims for people who became ill after eating the recalled cheese.

How Many States Were Affected by the Middlefield Original Cheese Recall?

The Middlefield Original Cheese recall reached 4 states in its second phase: Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Texas. The first recall reached only 1 state, Ohio, and covered just 3 cheese varieties.

What Is the Sell-By Date Range for the Recalled Middlefield Original Cheese?

The recalled Middlefield Original Cheese carries sell-by dates spanning about five months. The earliest date applies to some shredded-bag items. The latest applies to several 5 lb loaves and the 8 oz Organic Gouda, both listed above.

How Soon Do Listeria Symptoms Appear After Eating Contaminated Cheese?

Listeria symptoms from the recalled Middlefield cheese can appear soon after eating, depending on the type of infection. The CDC says signs of intestinal illness, like diarrhea, usually start within 24 hours and last 1 to 3 days. More serious infections can take up to two weeks to appear.

References

1. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/middlefield-original-cheese-co-op-recalls-organic-gouda-colored-cheddar-mozzarellaprovolone-pepper
2. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/middlefield-original-cheese-co-op-recalls-100-grass-fed-pepper-jack-cheese-and-horseradish-flavored
3. https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/signs-symptoms/index.html