Ohio Amish Cheese Co-Op Issues Recall of More Than 5,000 Pounds Over Listeria Concerns
August 19, 2025 | Geauga County, OH
An Amish-run cheese cooperative in northeast Ohio has voluntarily recalled more than 5,000 pounds of cheese after routine testing revealed potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
The recall, announced by the Middlefield Original Cheese Co-Op on August 15, affects several varieties of cheese produced in June and July and sold primarily in Ohio over the past month. While no illnesses have been reported to date, health officials are urging consumers to check their refrigerators and freezers for the affected products.
The FDA confirmed in its announcement that the cheeses most at risk include:
- 100% Grass-Fed Pepper Jack Cheese (sold under both Middlefield Original and Copia Collective labels in 8 oz. packages, 5 lb. loaves, and 40 lb. loaves, lot code 251661)
- Horseradish Flavored Cheese (8 oz. packages, lot code 2524061)
- Monterey Jack Cheese (8 oz. and 5 lb. packages, lot code 251672; 40 lb. blocks coded 7-16-25B)
- Farmers Cheese (8 oz. and 5 lb. packages, lot code 251672; 40 lb. blocks coded 7-16-25B)
- White Cheddar Cheese (primarily 40 lb. loaves, totaling about 4,500 lbs. of the recall)
All of the products were manufactured on June 16, June 24, and July 16, 2025, then distributed between July 14 and August 7 throughout Ohio.
Health Concerns
Listeria is considered especially dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, infection can lead to life-threatening illness, miscarriages, or stillbirths. While healthy adults may only experience flu-like symptoms such as fever or gastrointestinal distress, public health experts stress the importance of avoiding ingestion of contaminated products.
Who Is Affected?
Much of the recall involves 40-pound blocks of white cheddar, a packaging size more likely purchased in bulk by restaurants, delis, and distributors rather than individual households. That may allow businesses to be more easily identified and contacted, streamlining efforts to remove the cheese from circulation.
However, some of the affected varieties, including Pepper Jack, Horseradish, and Farmer’s Cheese, were sold in consumer-sized eight-ounce packs available at retailers.
Amish Farming Connection
The Middlefield Cheese Co-Op represents about 90 local farmers, nearly all of whom are Amish. Co-ops like this one play a crucial role in the Amish economy, giving small dairy producers direct access to wholesale and retail markets. Middlefield, located in Geauga County, anchors the fourth-largest Amish settlement in the U.S.
While the recall is likely to have financial repercussions for the co-op, consumer advocates and food safety officials have commended the group for acting quickly after its own internal testing raised concerns. “This proactive recall likely prevented exposure before there were any confirmed cases of illness,” an FDA spokesperson noted.
What Consumers Should Do
Customers who purchased the products are urged to discard the cheese immediately or return it to the point of purchase for a full refund.
Questions may be directed to Co-Op General Manager Nevin Byler at (440) 632-5567, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST.
So far, no hospitalizations or illnesses linked to the recall have surfaced. Still, state health officials warn that listeriosis symptoms can take days to weeks to appear—meaning the risk has not fully passed.