Whole Foods Recalls Goat Cheese Sold in 18 Stores Over Egg Allergy Risk

Whole Foods Market has issued a recall for a popular Belgian goat cheese after discovering it contains undeclared egg lysozyme, a protein derived from egg whites that can trigger severe reactions in people with egg allergies. The recall affects 18 stores across seven states, though Iowa shoppers should take note given the company's recent history of food safety actions in the region.

What prompted the Cabricharme cheese recall?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published the recall notice on September 11, warning that consumers with egg allergies or severe egg sensitivities could face a serious or potentially life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the affected product. Food allergy labeling is critical because shoppers often rely on package information to identify ingredients that could trigger severe reactions.

Whole Foods said the labeling problem was identified by a store team member. Following the discovery, the company removed affected products from store shelves. As of the recall announcement, no illnesses or allergic reactions linked to the recalled cheese had been reported.

Which states are affected by the recall?

According to the company's recall notice, the cheese was sold in specialty cheese departments at 18 Whole Foods Market stores in:

• Arizona
• California
• Connecticut
• Massachusetts
• New Jersey
• New York
• Rhode Island

While Iowa is not on the affected list for this particular recall, the company's recent food safety actions have touched the state, making it worth monitoring for local shoppers.

What products are included in the recall?

Affected products were cut and wrapped in stores and sold by the pound under Whole Foods Market scale labels. The recall covers:

• Fromagerie Coop de Mean Cabricharme Raw Milk Aged 60 Days, PLU 57953
• Belgian Cabricharme, PLU 54670

Consumers can identify affected items by checking the PLU code on the store label. The FDA notice says products with best-by dates up to and including October 7, 2026 are included in the recall.

What should customers who purchased the cheese do?

Customers who purchased the recalled cheese do not need to return it to a store. Instead, Whole Foods is advising consumers to get rid of the product. Anyone with a valid receipt can obtain a full refund from the place of purchase.

Consumers with additional questions may call the company at 1-844-936-8255 between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday, or 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT on weekends.

Another recent Whole Foods recall touched Iowa

Friday's recall follows another Whole Foods food safety action announced in August. At that time, the company recalled dozens of prepared foods, including salsa, guacamole and pico de gallo products sold in 12 states because they contained jalapeño peppers linked to a broader salmonella outbreak.

Federal health officials reported 345 illnesses across 27 states in connection with that outbreak, although no illnesses were tied to the recalled Whole Foods products. That recall involved products sold in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky and Ohio.

The back-to-back recalls raise questions about Whole Foods' quality control procedures and whether the company is doing enough to protect consumers. For Iowa shoppers, the August recall serves as a reminder that food safety issues can reach local stores even when the initial announcement comes from elsewhere.

What is Cabricharme cheese?

Cabricharme is a soft, creamy Belgian goat cheese produced from raw goat's milk and aged for several months. It has a rich texture and a mild flavor, making it a popular choice in specialty cheese departments.

Egg lysozyme, the undeclared ingredient at the center of this recall, is an egg white protein commonly used in cheese production as a preservative. For most consumers it poses no risk, but for those with egg allergies, even trace amounts can trigger serious reactions.

Newsweek contacted Amazon, which bought Whole Foods in 2017, for comment on Sunday but did not receive an immediate response.