In July, a staple of Canadian deli counters—Mount Becher Buffalo Medium Cheese—faced an unwelcome spotlight as federal authorities sounded the alarm over potential listeria contamination.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) wasted little time expanding its recall of Mount Becher Buffalo Medium Cheese, targeting several batches distributed in British Columbia and Ontario. The move followed laboratory results confirming the presence of Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium with the potential to cause severe illness, particularly in vulnerable groups.
Batch numbers 854 179 and 854 144, found in various sizes in British Columbia, and batch 854 263, sold as a 150-gram package in Ontario with a best before date of October 2, 2025, were flagged by the agency. Each product, the CFIA urged, should be discarded or returned—no exceptions. The agency’s online notice left no room for confusion: “Do not consume, use, sell, serve, or distribute recalled products.”
For most, listeriosis is a rare encounter, but its consequences are sobering. According to public health authorities, symptoms range from fever and muscle aches to nausea and headaches—unremarkable at first glance, yet insidious in their persistence. The CFIA emphasized that listeria’s real threat lies with those less able to fight it: pregnant women, older adults, and anyone with a weakened immune system. Trouble rarely arrives with a warning, as contaminated cheese may look and smell perfectly fine.
The recall, now classified as the agency’s highest risk level, has not yet been linked to any reported illnesses. CFIA officials continue their food safety investigation, determined to prevent further harm. Their testing triggered the recall and, as the agency notes, more recalls could follow if warranted by new evidence.
For now, the message is clear: vigilance is the best defence. The small act of checking a batch number could protect a neighbour or save a child. Food safety, after all, often depends on the choices made far from the spotlight, in kitchens and markets across the country.
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‘Do not consume’: Cheese recalled in Canada over possible bacteria contamination
