US Cheese Brand Issues Voluntary Recall Over Listeria Contamination
A popular cheese producer has been forced to pull one of its products from the market after health officials identified a potential serious health risk. Face Rock Creamery LLC has initiated a voluntary recall for its Vampire Slayer Garlic Cheddar cheese following a discovery by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The recall was triggered when FDA testing detected the presence of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria within the facility area where this specific cheese is packaged. This discovery has raised significant concerns about potential consumer safety.
Affected Products and Consumer Advice
The contamination incident is limited in scale, affecting only 16 individual units of the six-ounce cheese blocks. These products were sold exclusively at the Face Rock flagship store located at 680 2nd St. SE, Bandon, Oregon.
The affected cheese was available for purchase during a specific window: from November 10 at 3:30 p.m. PT until November 13 at 3:30 p.m. PT. Consumers can identify the recalled product by its UPC code 8 512222 00547 8.
Although no illnesses have been reported in connection with this contamination to date, the company and health authorities are taking no chances. Customers who purchased the affected cheese are strongly urged to either destroy the product immediately or return it to the store for a full refund.
Understanding the Listeria Health Threat
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Listeria represents a serious foodborne pathogen that can contaminate various food products. Infection with Listeria monocytogenes can lead to severe health complications, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Short-term symptoms in healthy individuals may include:
- High fever
- Severe headache
- Stiffness
- Nausea and abdominal pain
The CDC emphasises that listeria infection ranks as the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States, responsible for approximately 260 fatalities annually.
Recent Pattern of Food Safety Recalls
This cheese recall forms part of a broader pattern of food contamination incidents affecting consumers across the United States. Earlier this month, Moonlight Companies recalled yellow and white peaches grown in California due to Listeria detection in their packing facility.
These peaches, sold nationwide between September 16 and October 29, 2025, were available at major retailers including Kroger, Sprouts, Food Lion and Trader Joe's.
In an even more severe incident, Nate's Fine Foods of Roseville, California recalled nearly 245,000 pounds of various precooked pasta products. This recall followed a deadly listeria outbreak that resulted in six confirmed deaths and 27 illnesses as of November 1.
These consecutive incidents highlight ongoing challenges in food safety management and the critical importance of rigorous testing protocols throughout the food production and distribution chain.
