OTTAWA — Twelve organic cheese products sold under the Farm Boy, L’Ancêtre and Life Smart brands are being recalled across Canada because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued the Class 1 food recall warning Wednesday after its test results triggered the action. No illnesses associated with the affected products had been reported when the notice was published.

Check product codes, not only the brand

The recall includes five Farm Boy cheeses with July 30, 2027 best-before dates: organic Swiss, medium cheddar, old cheddar, extra sharp cheddar and three-year-old cheddar. It also includes Life Smart organic part-skim mozzarella with a March 30, 2027 best-before date.

Six L’Ancêtre products are affected: organic Swiss cheese and five shredded cheddar, mozzarella or Swiss products. Their listed best-before dates range from December 4, 2026 to July 30, 2027. Consumers should compare the package size, UPC and code with the complete table in the CFIA notice because other products sold under the same brands are not necessarily part of this recall.

Do not consume recalled products

The agency says recalled cheese should not be consumed, served, used, sold or distributed. It should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase. Anyone who believes they became ill after eating a recalled product should contact a health-care provider.

Listeria contamination may not change how food looks or smells. Symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. Pregnant people, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face higher risks; severe illness can be fatal.

The CFIA is continuing its food-safety investigation and says additional products could be recalled. Fromagerie L’Ancêtre Inc. is listed as the recalling firm.

Sources

Lead image: Farm Boy organic Swiss cheese included in the recall, supplied through the federal recall notice; image via Global News/Health Canada.