Quebecers who’ve stocked up on cheese sometime in the past month may want to check their fridge.
A handful of food recalls went out in August, including one for products sold at a specific Costco location.
Here’s everything you should know.
Cheese sold at Costco
Costco is notifying members who bought Laiterie Coaticook Cheese Curds (600 g) or Cheddar Cheese Block (640 g) at its Sherbrooke, Quebec warehouse on July 23, 2026. Coaticook is recalling certain best-before dates of both products over potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
The affected items are:
- Cheese Curds 600 g (Item #1924785): best before Aug. 7, 2026
- Cheddar Cheese Block 640 g (Item #1924804): best before Oct. 22, 2026
Costco says anyone with either product should throw it out or return it to the warehouse for a full refund. Food contaminated with Listeria doesn’t necessarily look or smell off, but it can still make you sick, with symptoms ranging from vomiting, nausea and muscle aches to fever and neck stiffness. Pregnant women, older adults and anyone with a weakened immune system face the highest risk, and in severe cases, the infection can be life-threatening.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the same issue in a separate notice. This recall is classified as a Class 1, the CFIA’s highest-risk category, meaning there’s a reasonable probability that using the product could cause serious health consequences.
Costco recall notice
Dozens of Coaticook cheese products
The Costco recall traces back to a much bigger recall Laiterie de Coaticook issued on August 3, covering 33 different Mild Cheddar Curds and White Cheddar block products sold across Quebec, all tied to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
The recall was triggered by the company itself, and as of the CFIA’s notice, no illnesses had been reported in connection with the products. The curds, sold in formats ranging from 50 g snack packs to 2 kg bags, and available in plain, dill, spice, hickory and onion varieties, all carry a “meilleur avant 07AU26” best-before date.
The white cheddar blocks, sold in sizes from 50 g up to a full 2.27 kg wheel, including salted, non-salted and semi-pressed versions, carry a slightly later “meilleur avant 22OC26” or, in a few cases, “05AU26” best-before date.
The CFIA notes its food safety investigation is ongoing and could still turn up more affected products.
As with the Costco-specific items, anyone with one of these products should throw it out or return it to wherever it was purchased, and anyone who suspects they got sick from it should contact a healthcare provider.
CFIA recall notice
A separate E. coli recall on Italian cheeses
Unrelated to the Coaticook situation, the CFIA is also recalling a handful of fresh cheese products sold in both Ontario and Quebec, made by Importation Mini Italia, after testing found generic E. coli. This one’s a Class 2 recall, a step down in severity, but the affected products should still be tossed rather than eaten.
The recalled items include:
- Bianca Murgia Burratina Pugliese (100 g, 125 g and 200 g)
- Bianca Murgia Burratina Pugliese al Tartufo (125 g)
- Longo’s Curato Burrata Soft Fresh Cheese (100 g)
- Sapori Coratini Stracciatella (200 g)
All were tied to a best-before date of Aug. 12, 2026, so most of what was on shelves has technically already expired. Still, if any of it ended up frozen, or folded into a dish that got refrigerated or frozen for later, it’s worth checking before you eat it.
CFIA recall notice
Anyone with questions about the Coaticook products can contact the company directly at 1-800-846-7224 or by email at serviceclient@laiteriedecoaticook.com. For the Mini Italia products, or any other recall concerns, the CFIA can be reached at 1-613-773-2342 or information@inspection.gc.ca.
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