The FDA announced two separate recalls on December 19, 2025, highlighting dangerous bacterial contamination and undeclared allergens that threaten American families while food safety failures surge to alarming levels under federal oversight.
Story Snapshot
- Boss Dairy Farms recalled Charlevoix Cheese due to deadly Listeria contamination detected in routine testing
- A.S.K. Foods recalled Publix Rice & Pigeon Peas for undeclared soy allergen threatening allergic consumers
- 2025 food recalls exploded to 415 events affecting 109.74 million units, more than double 2024’s 45 million
- Bacterial contamination and allergen failures now dominate FDA recall statistics amid deteriorating food safety standards
Dual Recalls Expose Serious Safety Failures
Boss Dairy Farms initiated an urgent recall of Charlevoix Cheese Company 8oz Mild Cheddar Cheese after routine testing detected Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The affected product carries UPC 850056642057 and lot number 13220025, distributed exclusively in Michigan. Simultaneously, A.S.K. Foods recalled 32oz Publix Rice & Pigeon Peas sold in Florida Publix stores due to undeclared soy allergen. Both recalls demonstrate fundamental quality control breakdowns that put consumers at serious risk.
The FDA emphasized immediate disposal or return of both products, though no illnesses have been reported yet. Listeria poses severe threats to pregnant women, elderly individuals, and immunocompromised Americans, potentially causing meningitis, septicemia, and death. The undeclared soy allergen threatens individuals with soy allergies who could experience life-threatening anaphylactic reactions. These recalls underscore how regulatory failures endanger the most vulnerable Americans.
Food Safety Crisis Reaches Alarming Proportions
These recalls occur amid a devastating surge in food safety failures throughout 2025. FDA data reveals 415 recall events affecting 109.74 million units year-to-date, compared to just 363 events and 45 million units in 2024. Third-quarter statistics show bacterial contamination as the second-leading recall cause with 37 events, including 23 Listeria cases. Undeclared allergens dominated with 48 events, led by soy contamination. This dramatic increase signals systemic breakdown in food production oversight.
The dairy sector alone generated 18 recall events affecting 2.6 million units in the third quarter, while prepared foods and produce led overall volumes. Listeria contamination has become increasingly common, with major recalls including 10.59 million ice cream bars and widespread pasta contamination since April 2025. These patterns reveal how federal agencies have failed to maintain basic safety standards protecting American families from contaminated food supplies.
Regulatory Weakness Threatens Consumer Protection
The Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 mandated preventive controls, yet contamination events continue escalating under current federal oversight. Listeria monocytogenes thrives in dairy environments and has driven recurring cheese recalls from companies like DKH Cheese and Rizo Lopez Foods in 2024. The Federal Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act should prevent undeclared allergen incidents, yet soy violations topped third-quarter statistics with 10 separate events.
Recent precedents include Publix recalls for undeclared walnuts in coffee cake on December 16 and tamales Listeria contamination on December 17. This pattern demonstrates how federal agencies struggle to enforce basic labeling requirements and sanitation standards. American consumers deserve protection from preventable contamination that threatens their health and safety through inadequate regulatory enforcement and industry compliance failures.
Sources:
FDA Issues Urgent Recall of Cheeses and Vegetables
Volumes of recalled food at both the FDA and FSIS have increased dramatically
Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts – FDA
