Cheeses Are ‘Potentially Deadly,’ FDA Says In Update: Recall Roundup

Several food-related recalls over bacteria contamination concerns have been announced recently by federal regulators, including “potentially deadly” grated cheeses, chocolate bars sold nationwide, and a supplement linked to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 45 people.

Also, a massive recall of a popular minifridge due to reported fires has been expanded to include nearly 1 million units, and General Motors has recalled nearly 80,000 EV vehicles that pose a hazard to pedestrians.

Sources for this report are the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Consumer Product Safety Commission, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and Patch reporting.

‘Potentially Deadly’ Cheese Recalled

The FDA said Thursday it had upgraded a November recall by New Jersey-based Ambriola Company for certain brands of Pecorino Romano cheese due to the possibility of “potentially deadly” listeria contamination.

More than 11,500 units of the grated cheese, sold in bags and cups, were recalled. The recall was classified as Class I, the highest risk, meaning consumption could cause “serious adverse health consequences or death.”

The products were sold between Nov. 3-20 and have expiration dates into 2026. They were sold in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin between Nov. 3-20.

More specific information is found on Patch and the FDA website.

Salmonella-Linked Chocolate Recall Expanded

A nationwide recall of potentially salmonella-contaminated Spring & Mulberry’s date-sweetened chocolate bars has been expanded beyond a single product to include eight types of the candy.

The recalled products are:

• Earl Grey, lot number 025258 in purple packaging;
• Lavender Rose, lot numbers 025259 and 025260 in light blue packaging;
• Mango Chili, lot number 025283 in orange packaging;
• Mint Leaf, lot number 025255 in teal packaging;
• Mixed Berry, lot numbers 025275, 025281, and 025337 in purple packaging;
• Mulberry Fennel, lot number 025345 in burgundy packaging;
• Pecan Date, lot numbers 025261, 025265, 025267, 025268, 025339, and 025343 in yellow packaging; and
• Pure Dark Minis, lot number 025273 in blue packaging

“Because Salmonella can be difficult to detect and may appear intermittently, we are now expanding the recall beyond Mint Leaf in consultation with the FDA to include additional production lots made during the same time period on the same equipment,” the company said in a press release.

The potential for salmonella contamination was flagged in routine testing conducted by a lab. The recalled chocolate bars were distributed nationwide and have been for sale in grocery stores, specialty stores and online since Sept. 15, 2025.

No illnesses have been reported. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning typically begin within hours or days of eating a contaminated food product and include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Most people recover without treatment within a week, but infections can be serious for children under five, adults 65 and older, and those with weakened immune systems.

More information and specific product information can be found on the FDA website.

Salmonella Outbreak Tied To Supplement Sickens 45

Super Greens diet supplement powder, made by Superfoods Inc., has been linked to a salmonella outbreak infecting 45 people across 21 states, resulting in 12 hospitalizations, federal regulators said.

The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control prompted a voluntary recall on Wednesday for the original and wild berry flavors, with expiration dates from August 2026 to January 2028. The supplement was sold nationwide, primarily online at the Live it Up company website and other websites, including Amazon, eBay and Walmart.

Customers should throw away or return the product, which was sold nationwide, primarily online. No deaths have been reported.

The states reporting listeria illnesses linked to the supplement are Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.

Minifridge Recall Expands To 964K After Fire Reports

An appliance distributor is expanding a minifridge recall that now covers roughly 964,000 Frigidaire-branded products sold nationwide after multiple fire reports, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Following a recall of about 634,000 minifridges last year, Canada-based Curtis International recalled an additional 330,000 of another model on Thursday.

The recalled fridges have electrical components that can short circuit and ignite the plastic used to make the product — risking fires and potential burns for users. At least six fires resulting in property damage have been linked to the products to date

The 330,000 Frigidaire minifridges now under recall carry the model number EFMIS121 and were sold exclusively at Target. Owners of the recalled minifridges are urged to stop using them immediately and visit Curtis International’s website to learn how to request a refund.

80K SUVs Recalled Over Pedestrian Safety Issue

General Motors has recalled 80,000 Chevy Equinox EV units because the pedestrian alert system is defective, federal regulators said in mid-December.

The recall is for certain 2025–2026 models that potentially fail to conform to minimum sound requirements for hybrids and EVs, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Similar recalls have been issued for the 2024 and 2025 models.

The affected EV units may have incorrect software, causing exterior sounds to be quieter than required at speeds up to 6.2 mph. Pedestrians could face a safety risk because they might not be able to determine if an approaching vehicle is accelerating or decelerating based on sound alone under certain circumstances, the regulator said.

The issue was brought to GM’s attention by an engineer’s report to the automaker's Speak Up for Safety program, according to ducuments filed with the NHTSA.

A subsequent investigation revealed that software calibrations for both the 2025 and 2026 model years, despite being different, might fail to meet the required relative change in volume when accelerating from a standstill up to 6.2 mph.

No accidents or incidents have been linked to this issue, the notice said.

Water With ‘Floating Black Material’ Recalled

More than 38,000 gallons of Meijer Steam Distilled Water have been recalled after “floating black material” was discovered, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

The recall affects 1-gallon jugs sold at Meijer stores in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. Consumers are advised to discard the water or return it to the store for a refund.

The products included in the recall have the lot code 39-222 #3, a “best by” date of Oct. 4, 2026, and UPC 041250841197. According to the FDA, the black matter prompting the recall has not yet been identified.

Rodent, Bird Droppings Prompt Recall

A widespread recall was announced late last year for FDA-regulated products sold at Twin Cities grocery stores after rodent and bird contamination was found at Gold Star Distribution Inc.’s Minneapolis facility.

Gold Star recalled all products stored there — including food, drugs, cosmetics, and pet food — after the FDA found unsanitary conditions, including rodent excreta, urine, and bird droppings.

Officials warned the contamination poses serious health risks, including potential exposure to salmonella and leptospira bacteria, and affects products distributed throughout Minnesota and nearby states. The affected stores are in dozens of locations across the Twin Cities metro and greater Minnesota.

The list includes numerous grocery stores, international markets, and specialty retailers. More specific information is found on Patch and the FDA website.