New York, NY — Shoppers who recently purchased certain cheese products at Whole Foods Market are being warned about a recall after the product was found to contain an undeclared egg ingredient that could pose a serious allergy risk.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued the recall for Fromagerie Coop de Mean Cabricharme cheese sold at Whole Foods locations across several states.
The concern involves egg lysozyme, an egg white protein, which was not listed on the product’s label. For people with an egg allergy or severe sensitivity, consuming the affected cheese could result in a serious or potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.
Whole Foods said the affected products have already been removed from store shelves.
Which Whole Foods cheese is affected
According to the FDA, the recalled cheese was not sold in a traditional prepackaged format. Instead, it was cut and plastic wrapped by the pound at Whole Foods stores and carried labels generated by the store’s scale.
That means shoppers may need to check their receipts, packaging or product labels carefully to determine whether they purchased the recalled cheese.
One affected product can be identified by PLU 57953 and has a best-by date of October 7, 2026.
That product was sold in:
- California
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New York
- Rhode Island
A second affected product carries PLU 54670, also with a best-by date of October 7, 2026. It was sold in Arizona and California.
The recall applies specifically to the affected product and identifying information listed by the FDA.
Why the undeclared ingredient matters
The major concern is not that the cheese was necessarily found to be contaminated, but that egg lysozyme was not declared on the label.
For someone with an egg allergy, an undeclared egg-derived ingredient can create a significant health risk because the person may consume the product without realizing it contains an allergen.
An allergic reaction can vary in severity, but people with serious egg allergies can face potentially dangerous symptoms after exposure.
Consumers who know they have an egg allergy or severe sensitivity should therefore avoid eating the recalled cheese.
What shoppers should do with the recalled cheese
The FDA and Whole Foods are urging customers who purchased the affected cheese not to consume it.
Customers do not need to return the product. Instead, they are advised to destroy the cheese to prevent accidental consumption.
Shoppers who purchased the recalled product can also obtain a full refund with a valid receipt from the Whole Foods location where the purchase was made.
Whole Foods has already removed the affected products from its stores, reducing the chance of additional purchases.
How to get more information
Customers who have questions about the recall can contact Whole Foods at 1-844-936-8255.
The phone line is available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central Time Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central Time on Saturday and Sunday.
Anyone who believes they may have experienced an allergic reaction after eating the recalled cheese should take the situation seriously and seek appropriate medical attention, particularly if symptoms are severe.
For shoppers who purchased cheese by the pound at Whole Foods in the affected states, checking the PLU number and best-by date is an important first step.
Did you recently buy cheese at Whole Foods? Check your packaging and receipt, and share this recall information with friends or family members who may have an egg allergy.