Cabot’s butter recall exposes critical processing gaps every dairy farmer should address. Quality control lessons inside

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Cabot Creamery has recalled 1,700 pounds of butter across seven states due to coliform bacteria detection, classified as a low-risk FDA Class III recall. While no illnesses are reported, the contamination highlights sanitation concerns in dairy processing, emphasizing the need for rigorous quality checks. The incident underscores the importance of monitoring pasteurization practices, cold-chain hygiene, and post-processing protocols. Dairy farmers are urged to audit their sanitation systems and employee training to prevent similar issues. This recall serves as a industry-wide reminder that even minor lapses can impact consumer trust in dairy products.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Recall specifics: 8-ounce Cabot butter batches (UPC 0 78354 62038 0) in 7 states, pulled for coliform indicators.
• Industry wake-up call: Coliform presence signals potential sanitation failures, even in FDA’s lowest-risk recall category.
• Action items: Review CIP systems, pasteurization logs, and employee hygiene training to safeguard product integrity.
• Consumer trust: Proactive quality control prevents reputational damage in an era of viral food safety concerns.

If you’ve been busy in the barn this week, you might have missed that Cabot Creamery has pulled nearly 1,700 pounds of butter from store shelves. Their parent company, Agri-Mark, initiated this recall after detecting coliform bacteria in specific butter batches – something every dairy producer understands is a serious quality control flag.

What’s Being Recalled

The specific product in question is Cabot’s Extra Creamy Premium Sea Salted Butter, the 8-ounce package containing two 4-ounce sticks. If you’ve got some in your fridge, check for:

• UPC: 0 78354 62038 0
• Best-by date: September 9, 2025
• Lot number: 090925-055
• Item number: 2038

Where It Was Distributed

The affected butter reached seven states: Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Arkansas. Agri-Mark is pulling 189 cases (about 1,701 pounds) from stores across these regions.

Understanding the Contamination

The FDA has labeled this a Class III recall – their lowest risk category. But as dairy farmers, we know that coliform counts tell an essential story about processing conditions.

While these bacteria typically won’t make consumers sick, their presence raises red flags about sanitation during processing. As anyone who’s ever dealt with milk quality premiums knows, coliforms shouldn’t be showing up in properly pasteurized and handled dairy products.

What This Means for the Industry

Let’s face it – recalls like this affect all of us in the dairy business. Consumers don’t distinguish between brands when they see headlines about contaminated dairy products.

The PMO limits for coliforms in grade “A” milk exist for good reason. When these bacteria appear in finished products, something has gone wrong – either post-pasteurization contamination or a pasteurization failure.

What makes coliforms particularly troublesome is their ability to grow even at refrigeration temperatures. Genera like Enterobacter and Serratia can multiply in cold environments, potentially causing flavor and texture problems that consumers notice.

Protecting Your Operation

This recall serves as a timely reminder to review your quality protocols:

1. When was the last time you audited your CIP procedures?
2. Are your pasteurization records being adequately maintained and verified?
3. Have you trained new employees on proper sanitation practices?

Minor lapses in these areas can lead to big problems downstream. As one dairy farmer told me recently, “Quality isn’t just about passing inspections – it’s about sleeping well at night knowing you’ve done everything right.”

The Bottom Line

No illnesses have been reported from this recall, and Agri-Mark appears to be handling the situation responsibly. But it’s a wake-up call for everyone in the industry.

In today’s social media environment, food safety issues travel faster than a fresh rumor at the co-op meeting. Our collective reputation depends on each operation maintaining the highest standards.

We’ll keep tracking this situation and share any updates that might affect your business. In the meantime, let’s use this as motivation to double-check our quality systems. After all, the best recall is the one that never happens.

Learn more:

• California Dairy Ordered to Recall Raw Milk for Fourth Time Since 2019
  Explore recurring raw milk recalls due to Campylobacter jejuni contamination, highlighting risks and sanitation challenges in unpasteurized dairy production.
• Bird Flu and Milk: The Unshakeable Science Protecting Your Bulk Tank
  Learn how pasteurization safeguards milk from H5N1 avian flu while understanding the biosecurity protocols essential for protecting herds and bulk tank operations.
• Ensuring Top Milk Quality: Key Practices, Technologies, and Strategies for Dairy Farmers
  Discover practical hygiene practices and advanced technologies that help dairy farmers maintain milk safety and prevent bacterial contamination.

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