Agri-Mark, the parent company of Cabot Creamery, has voluntarily recalled about 1,700 lb of butter due to contamination with coliform bacteria, according to an enforcement report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Elevated levels of coliform bacteria can suggest sanitation failures during production.
Agri-Mark recalled 189 cases of “Cabot Creamery 8 oz Extra Creamy Premium Butter, Sea Salted.” The packaging included two 4-ounce (oz) sticks of butter, with the UPC code 0 78354 62038 0 and the lot number 090925-055. The recalled butter has a best-by date of 09/09/25.
The enforcement report lists the recall as a class 3 event, which means eating the recalled butter is not likely to cause negative health consequences. No illnesses have been reported to date related to this recall.
The recalled butter was sold in seven states: Arkansas, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.
What Is Coliform Bacteria?
For over a century, the presence of coliform bacteria has been considered an indicator of unsanitary conditions. Most coliform bacteria don’t cause foodborne illness, but many of the strains that do are types of E. coli.
E. coli can cause several different types of illness depending on the strain, but it’s often connected to watery or bloody diarrhea.
Other symptoms of E. coli infection include stomach cramps, vomiting, and fever.
Some groups are more vulnerable to E. coli infection, including:
- Children younger than 5
- Adults 65 and older
- People with weakened immune systems
- International travelers
Neither the FDA nor Agri-Mark have said that the recalled butter is contaminated with E. coli, but it may be safer to return or throw away the butter.
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