US cheese recall for Listeria; Europe faces soft-cheese outbreak

A voluntary recall of multiple cheese products in the United States and a linked listeria outbreak in Europe have heightened concerns about the safety of soft and semi-soft cheeses sold across borders. In Ohio, the Middlefield Original Cheese Co-Op has recalled more than 5,000 pounds of cheese produced earlier this summer after internal tests detected Listeria monocytogenes. The recall, announced as ongoing, covers five product varieties shipped to manufacturers, distributors and retailers in Ohio between mid-July and early August. The company halted production during the investigation, which traced the contamination to environmental sources that spread to food-contact areas.

Details from the recall show that the affected cheeses were produced on three separate dates in June and July 2025, with shipments reaching the market from July 14 to August 7. While no illnesses have been reported in connection with these products, health officials warn that Listeria infections can be serious, particularly for young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. Consumers who bought any of the recalled items are urged to dispose of them or return them to the point of...