More than 3,000 packages from a beloved grocer may have been contaminated—and the product was distributed wider than first believed.
The FDA Just Upgraded a Mass Cheese Recall to the Nation’s Highest Risk Level
Published on Jul. 08, 2025
If you’re a Trader Joe’s loyalist, you know the magic of their cheese selection—including international varieties. Unfortunately, a recent recall now has led national officials to heighten awareness about a product that might be stored in some TJ’s lovers’ fridges.
On Tuesday, July 8, a discovery regarding an earlier Listeria monocytogenes concern prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to publish an updated alert. That alert states the FDA has assigned a Class I designation to the recall of six-ounce cups of Vampire Slayer garlic cheddar cheese curds sold at Trader Joe’s originally first reported to be located in California and Oregon. However, a press release shared with the public on June 20 indicated that stores in Northern California, including Fresno and Monterey, and Northern Nevada (specifically Carson City, Reno, and Sparks) received the affected cups of cheese curds. This information is also backed up by a recall notice from Trader Joe’s.
Class I is the FDA’s highest risk level, reserved, as they explain, for “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”
Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a type of food poisoning, as the Cleveland Clinic explains. It may cause symptoms like fever, headache, or vomiting and can cause complications such as pneumonia, sepsis, and fatality. Certain groups of people—like those who are pregnant or who have compromised immune systems—may be at greatest risk.
The FDA provided the following details about the recalled Vampire Slayer Garlic Cheddar Cheese Curds:
- Net Wt.: 6 oz
- Packaging: Reportedly a sealed plastic cup with lid
- UPC: 8 51222 00528 7
- Lot numbers: 20250519VS01 and 20250519VS02
- Use By date: 08292025
- Total product quantity: 260 cases (with 12 cups per case)
In its press release, producer Face Rock Creamery warns consumers not to eat the product but to instead return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Consumers who purchased the recalled Vampire Slayer cheese curds can contact Trader Joe’s with any questions via the contact information listed in the company link above.
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