CFIA Recalls Cheese Products Nationwide Over Listeria Contamination Risk

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a nationwide recall for various Farm Boy, L’Ancêtre and Life Smart cheese products over the risk of Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

The warning, issued Wednesday, asks Canadians to check their refrigerators and avoid using any recalled products. No illnesses linked to the recalled cheeses have been reported.

Recall Triggered by CFIA Testing

The recall followed CFIA test results, and the agency says its investigation is continuing. That work could lead to additional product recalls.

The CFIA’s continuing investigation comes amid broader food-safety scrutiny in Canada, including The Canada Report’s coverage of Western Canada recalls involving Inspiredgo products over listeria concerns. The latest cheese recall adds to that pattern, with the affected products listed below.

The affected products include Farm Boy organic Swiss and cheddar cheeses carrying a best-before date of July 30, 2027, as well as Life Smart organic part skim mozzarella cheese with a best-before date of March 30, 2027.

Multiple L’Ancêtre organic shredded cheeses are also included, with best-before dates in December 2026, January 2027 and July 2027.

What Consumers Should Do

The CFIA is advising customers not to consume, serve, use, sell or distribute any recalled cheese products.

Instead, the agency says recalled items should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased. Consumers should check product labels and best-before dates carefully, particularly because the recalled cheeses include several varieties under the three brands.

The agency is also verifying that recalled products are being removed from the marketplace while its food-safety investigation continues.

Food May Appear Normal

The recall carries a warning that can make a food-safety issue difficult for households to spot: food contaminated with listeria may not look or smell spoiled.

“Food contaminated with listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick,” the CFIA said in its notice.

That means appearance and smell should not be used to judge whether an affected product is safe. The agency’s direction is clear: do not use recalled cheese, even if it appears normal.

Higher Risks for Vulnerable People

The CFIA warns that severe listeria illness can be fatal. Pregnant women, older people and those with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of serious illness.

For pregnant women, the risks can be particularly grave. The agency says an infection can lead to premature delivery, infection of a newborn or stillbirth, even when the pregnant person experiences only mild, flu-like symptoms.

Anyone who believes they became sick after consuming a recalled product should contact a health-care provider, the CFIA says.

For now, the agency’s message to consumers is centred on a straightforward precaution: check for the recalled Farm Boy, L’Ancêtre and Life Smart products, and discard them or return them to the point of purchase.

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