Consumers planning charcuterie boards or browsing specialty grocery counters are being urged to inspect their refrigerators following a major food safety alert. Austin, Texas-based grocer Whole Foods Market has initiated a voluntary recall of two distinct specialty cheese selections due to concerns over an undeclared egg allergen. The public alert was formally published following notifications coordinated through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Federal food safety regulators warned that the recalled products contain egg lysozyme, a specific protein derived from egg whites that was inadvertently omitted from the ingredient declarations on scale labels. For individuals who live with an allergy or a heightened sensitivity to eggs, ingesting the unlisted protein carries the potential to provoke severe, life-threatening allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.
The recall specifically targets two imported gourmet varieties: Belgian Cabricharme and Fromagerie Coop de Mean Cabricharme. Both items were distributed to select retail locations and prepared for individual sale at dedicated specialty cheese counters. Because egg proteins can trigger immediate physiological distress in sensitive consumers, health authorities have classified the missing label declaration as a serious safety hazard.
According to regulatory disclosures, the presence of egg lysozyme represents a hidden danger because specialty cheeses are not typically suspected of containing poultry-derived proteins by ordinary shoppers. When food manufacturing or packaging processes fail to disclose such secondary ingredients, individuals managing severe dietary restrictions are left vulnerable to unintended exposure.
The labeling discrepancy was initially detected by an alert Whole Foods Market store team member during regular operations. Following the internal identification of the error, the grocery chain acted to pull the affected batches from store displays. Official notices confirmed that all implicated inventory had been successfully removed from store shelves by the time the public alert was released.
Health authorities and company representatives confirmed that no illnesses, allergic emergencies, or adverse reactions related to the consumption of the cheeses had been reported at the time of the announcement. Despite the absence of known medical incidents, safety protocols necessitate an immediate consumer-level alert due to the potentially fatal nature of unmanaged food allergies.
The scope of the recall encompasses specialty cheese departments across 18 individual Whole Foods Market locations spanning seven states. The geographic distribution of the impacted stores includes Arizona, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island.
Although Whole Foods maintains its corporate headquarters in Austin, stores located within the state of Texas were not included in the distribution network for the mislabeled products and remain unaffected by the recall. Nevertheless, regulators advise traveling consumers or shoppers who recently visited specialty locations in the affected states to review any purchases brought into their homes.
Detailed product specifications have been released to assist shoppers in identifying the recalled cheeses. The first affected item is Formagerie Coop de Mean Cabricharme, Raw Milk, Aged 60 days. This variety carries the Price Look-Up (PLU) code 57953 and was sold in six states: California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. The recall applies to all packages marked with "Best By" dates up to and including October 7, 2026.
The second product subject to the alert is labeled as Belgian Cabricharme, carrying the PLU code 54670. This specific cheese was sold exclusively in Whole Foods specialty departments in California and Arizona. As with the companion product, the recall covers all units bearing "Best By" dates up to and including October 7, 2026.
Both varieties of the recalled artisan cheese were sold cut and wrapped in clear plastic packaging by the pound. Each package was weighed, priced, and marked directly at the retail level using standard Whole Foods Market scale labels. Because these items were custom-packaged for retail purchase rather than pre-sealed in factory packaging, consumers are urged to carefully read the white scale labels affixed to the plastic wrapping.
Store representatives and public health officials have issued explicit guidance for individuals who may currently have these cheeses in their possession. Customers who purchased either variety of Cabricharme are strongly urged not to consume the product under any circumstances and are instructed to immediately destroy and discard the remaining cheese.
Consumers who have purchased the recalled items are eligible to receive a full refund directly from the grocery retailer. To claim compensation, buyers are instructed to return to the specific Whole Foods Market store location where the item was originally acquired and present a valid purchase receipt to customer service staff.
For shoppers seeking additional information or clarification regarding the scope of the recall, Whole Foods Market has made customer assistance representatives available by telephone at 1-844-936-8255. The dedicated support line is staffed Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Central Time, as well as on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Central Time.
Food safety experts and regulatory officials emphasize that checking product packaging at home is the most effective way to prevent accidental allergen exposure. Anyone serving artisan cheese assortments at social gatherings is encouraged to verify the origin and labeling of specialty items, ensuring that guests with severe food allergies remain protected from undisclosed ingredients.
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