Celery, Butter, and More Pulled From Shelves This Week

Three food products made headlines this week due to recalls—including one that was linked to potential fecal contamination.

Certain sticks of Cabot Creamery butter were pulled from shelves and given a class III risk level over elevated levels of coliform bacteria—organisms that are present in the feces of all warm-blooded animals.

Additionally, more than 20,000 pounds of Johnsonville sausages were recalled following customer reports of hard plastic in the meat, as were Marketside celery sticks sold at Walmart over potential Listeria contamination.

Keep reading for more details on what to check your fridge and freezer for.

On March 26, Agri-Mark, Inc., voluntarily recalled 1,701 pounds of Cabot Creamery butter after testing revealed the products had elevated levels of coliform bacteria, a large group of bacteria that could indicate fecal contamination. Most types of coliform bacteria do not harm humans, but they are used as an indicator of other disease-causing pathogens.

On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration labeled the recall as Class III, the lowest risk level. There have been no reported complaints or illnesses in connection to the recalled butter, Agri-Mark said.

The company said it recovered 99.5% of the recalled butter before it was sold to consumers, but 17 recall packages were sold to consumers in Vermont. If you have the recalled butter in your fridge, the safest option is not to consume the product and to return it to the store or throw it away.

Recalled Product Information

• Product Description: Cabot Creamery Extra Creamy Premium Butter, Sea Salted
• Size: 8 oz. (two 4 oz. sticks)
• Best-By Date: Sept. 9, 2025
• UPC: 0 78354 62038 0
• Lot Code: 090925-055
• Item Number: 2038
• Affected States: Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Arkansas

On Saturday, Johnsonville, LLC, recalled about 22,672 pounds of bratwurst sold in stores in 10 states. The products were pulled from shelves over contamination of a foreign material: hard plastic.

The recall was initiated after the company received two consumer complaints of hard plastic material in the bratwurst. There have been no confirmed reports of injury in connection with the recalled product, according to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The recalled bratwurst was produced on Feb. 5, 2025, but FSIS said the product may still be in consumers’ freezers. The agency is urging consumers not to eat the affected bratwurst and to throw it away or return it to the store.

Recalled Product Information

• Product Description: Johnsonville BRATS CHEDDAR Bratwurst
• Size: 19 oz.
• Package Code: B9FOD
• Establishment Number: Est. 1647
• Affected States: Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin

Marketside celery sticks were recalled on Thursday over potential contamination of Listeria, bacteria that can cause foodborne illness. The products were sold at Walmart locations in 28 states and Washington, D.C.

The recall was initiated after a sample of the celery in a Georgia store location tested positive for Listeria. According to the FDA, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled celery to date.

The product is past its best-if-used-by date and is no longer in stores, but the FDA said consumers may have frozen the celery for later use. If you have the recalled celery, do not consume it and discard the product.

• Product Description: Marketside Celery Sticks
• Size: 4 count 4 in/1.6 oz bundle packs
• Best-If-Used-By Date: March 23, 2025
• UPC:  6 81131 16151 0
• Lot Code: P047650
• Affected States: Alabama, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virgina, Wyoming, and Washington, D.C.