A well-known butter brand has been recalled after testing found bacteria often present in fecal matter in its product.
Cabot Creamery issued a voluntary recall on 1,700 pounds, or 189 cases, of its Extra Creamy Sea Salt Butter Sticks on March 27 due to potential contamination of “elevated levels of coliform,” according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Coliform bacteria are present in the digestive tracts of humans and animals. As of now, no illnesses have been reported.
According to New York’s Department of Health, most coliform bacteria are harmless, but certain rare strains of E. coli, a type of fecal coliform bacteria, can cause severe illness.
“Coliforms are relatively easy to identify, are usually present in larger numbers than more dangerous pathogens, and respond to the environment, wastewater treatment, and water treatment similarly to many pathogens,” the NYSDOH states. “As a result, testing for coliform bacteria can be a reasonable indication of whether other pathogenic bacteria are present.”
Other potential pathogens include salmonella and E coli. Coliform is found in other unsanitary foods, such as raw milk, cheese, and ice.
The contaminated butter was sold in seven states: New York, Vermont, Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Arkansas, and Pennsylvania.
Each product included a “best by” date of September 9, 2025, the lot number 090925-055, and the UPC digits 0 78354 62038 0.
The recall is under a Class III label, meaning the product is unlikely to cause harmful health issues.
According to a representative from Cabot, 99.5 percent of the product was recovered before reaching consumers. Only 17 packages, about 34 sticks of butter, were sold at retails , and all of which were sold in Vermont.
Cabot’s recall comes a few days after Johnsonville, LLC issued its own voluntary recall on approximately 22,672 pounds of its cheddar bratwurst product due to potential contamination with foreign material, specifically hard plastic.”
The affected sausages were first produced on February 5, 2025, and distributed to several retailers across 10 states: Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.”
Each of the tray packages contains five pieces of “Johnsonville BRATS CHEDDAR Bratwurst” and the package code B9FOD. The recalled product has the establishment number “Est. 1647” on the front of the label.
Johnsonville, LLC initiated the recall after the company received complaints from two separate customers reporting hard plastic found in their purchased product.
There have been no reports of injuries due to the consumption of the sausage.
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) urges consumers not to eat these products and to dispose of them immediately. Consumers can return the recalled product to the store they bought it from.
