Miyokos Butter is being recalled across 10 states due to concerns of E. Coli, Yeast and mould. This is one of the top searched food related stories. Whether you are in NJ, Illinois or any state, it is good to know the facts. The good news is this is only a single lot recall.
What is the Recall?
The affected product is Miyokos Creamery European Style Salted Plant Milk Butter. There are 6 sticks in a case, and 1,304 cases have been recalled. This makes a grand total of 7,824 packs.
The company responsible is Prosperity Organic Foods Inc in Boise, Idaho. They issued the recall on 11th September due to contamination of yeast, mould and E. Coli.
Miyokos is a well known brand for those who avoid dairy. The butter is derived from cultured plant milk. It is used as a 1-1 substitute for traditional butter. However many people say it is more expensive than they would like. Reports say this is a single batch issue. Many other batches are unaffected.
How To Check If You Are Affected
This can be checked in under a minute, you just need to open up your box of butter and check the UPC code is 857554005773. Then check the lot code on the carton. This should be 07871. The best before date or expiry should be 5th November 2026.
The batch code on the large cases is 1007871, but this will not be visible at home. The stores and distributors will have this. As this is a perishable product it will be sold either chilled or frozen.
If you struggle to find this code, it should be on the side flap of the carton, or towards the bottom of the carton. Using a phone torch can help. If you have put the butter in another container, check your receipt.
The affected packs were sent to Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Wisconsin. If you are not in these states then it is very unlikely that you are affected. But it won’t hurt to check.
What Does The FDAs Rating Mean?
Whilst many headlines have said that FDA recalls butter, but the company actually issues a recall. The FDA then look into it and give it a rating. In this case the FDA rated the recall Class II on Friday, 23rd October. This was 6 weeks after the company had started recalling their product.
A Class II rating does mean something. Reports state that a Class II recall are for products that could cause “medically reversible adverse health consequences”. So whilst there is a risk of something happening it is typically not life threatening.
This is not a severe issue. The FDA also have Class I, for products that could cause harm. Class III is the lowest rating and are for products that could cause harm. So we know health officials take E. Coli very seriously. Hence why this story became widely known.
It is also good to note that 7,824 packs is not a huge amount when you consider the amount of butter Americans consume weekly. Whilst it is a risk for those that own it, it shows most people are safe.
Why is it taking so long?
Often a rating will not be given until a few weeks after a company has issued a recall. This is because the FDA will analyse the situation and decide which class it falls under. This is likely why we are hearing about it now, despite it being in September.
In the meanwhile what you can do is check if your butter falls under the batch code or not. If it does then do not eat it. Put it in the bin, or return it to the store you purchased it from. Keep your receipt as many stores will offer a refund.
Clean any surfaces, knives or containers that came into contact with the butter.
If you are unsure whether your butter falls under the batch code, get in touch with the stores customer service. Or contact the brand directly. If there is no batch code on your butter, it is best to be safe and throw it in the bin. Don’t risk falling ill for a few dollars.
Take care of your health! E. Coli can cause diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and a mild temperature. If you have eaten the butter and are feeling unwell then speak to a doctor. Young children, adults and those with weakened immune systems should be especially cautious.
What Can We Learn?
Just because it is plant based does not mean it is completely safe. Often E. Coli in food means it has become contaminated during production. Any fresh product that is produced in batches could encounter issues.
One last tip, the FDA allows you to sign up to email alerts so you do not have to rely on headlines. It takes a couple of minutes to set up but means you will be informed of issues like this quickly.
For Miyokos and Prosperity Organic Foods it means they will be under pressure from their customers to know what went wrong and how they will fix it. For everyone it is a great reminder to check the batch codes occasionally, as it would not take long and could save you a terrible week.
