More Than 1,700 Pounds of Cabot Butter Recalled Due to Fecal Contamination

The products were distributed across seven states, including New York, Vermont, and Pennsylvania.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in White Oak, Md., on June 5, 2023. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

Vermont-based Agri-Mark Inc. is pulling out thousands of pounds of butter from the market, citing bacterial contamination, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The recall is applicable to 189 cases of “Cabot Creamery 8 oz. Extra Creamy Premium Butter” totaling 1,701 pounds, the agency said in an April 8 enforcement report. The products are being withdrawn as they are “contaminated with elevated levels of coliform” bacteria.

Coliform represents a large group of bacteria. While most coliform types are harmless, certain variants such as fecal coliform can result in stomach aches, gastrointestinal diseases, and cholera. E. coli is a type of fecal coliform that poses health risks to human beings.

The FDA has designated the recall as Class III, which is one of three recall classifications used by the agency. The classification is applicable in “a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.”

The products have “best by” dates of Sept. 9, 2025, with lot code 090925-055 and item code 2038. They were distributed in seven states—Arkansas, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania,  and Vermont.

In an April 9 statement, Agri-Mark said it has so far not received any complaints or reports of illnesses linked to the recalled item.

The company has “successfully recovered 99.5 percent of the lot of the recalled product before it was sold to consumers,” it said. “A small amount—17 retail packages (8.5 lbs.)—was sold to consumers in Vermont.”

“Agri-Mark has identified the cause and has taken the appropriate internal actions to address it. No other products were affected. Agri-Mark is dedicated to food safety and producing quality products and is always monitoring its products for compliance.”

The Epoch Times has reached out to Agri-Mark for comment.

Multiple recalls related to coliform bacteria have been made over the past year.

In November, Grimmway Farms, for example, recalled some of its organic whole carrots and organic baby carrots, citing the risk of contamination with E. coli.

The recall was issued after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention informed the company that items could be associated with an outbreak, which at the time was linked to 39 illnesses and one death.

In May 2024, Pennsylvania-based Cargill Meat Solutions withdrew more than 16,000 pounds of ground beef products due to suspected E. coli presence.

Coliform Contamination

According to the Vermont Department of Health, coliform bacteria are “one of the most common water contamination problems in private water systems in Vermont and throughout the U.S.”

“Coliform is a family of bacteria common in soil, plants, and intestinal tracts of humans and animals. The presence of these bacteria in drinking water is used to determine if it may be unsafe to drink,” the department says on its website.

A study conducted in the state found that roughly two out of three springs and one in three wells contained coliform. One in 10 families with a spring was determined to be drinking water contaminated with E. coli.

Among E. coli, the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) is a dangerous type of bacteria, according to the CDC.

STEC infections can result in a serious health condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome, potentially leading to failure of the kidneys, permanent health issues, and even death.

People who are at increased risk of E. coli include adults aged 65 and above, children younger than five years old, international travelers, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

According to a Feb. 13 report from the Public Interest Research Group, more Americans got sick from contaminated food outbreaks last year compared to the previous year.

“Nearly 1,400 people became ill from food they ate in 2024 that was later recalled—98 percent of them from just 13 outbreaks, a stunning fact that shows the consequences of companies producing or selling contaminated food. All but one of the 13 outbreaks involved Listeria, Salmonella, or E. coli,” the report said.

In 2024, “total illnesses increased to 1,392, up from 1,118 in 2023,” the report said, adding that “instances of severe illness increased dramatically last year, as hospitalizations more than doubled from 230 in 2023 to 487 in 2024.”