Dairy cooperative Agri-Mark has voluntarily recalled a single lot of Cabot Creamery 8-ounce Extra Creamy Premium Butter with sea salt, capturing the internet's attention thanks to its ick factor. The particularly disturbing food recall was due to "an elevated level of coliform bacteria" discovered during product testing. Coliform is a bacteria often associated with fecal matter (or, poop).
Some types of coliform can also be found in plants, soil and in the intestines of animals. It's not always harmful. However, the infamous E. coli bacteria is a type of coliform that can cause severe digestive distress. A high-profile and deadly E. coli outbreak was traced to McDonald's last year.
Dairy manufacturer testing targets non-fecal coliforms, says Nicole Martin, assistant research professor in dairy foods microbiology and the director of the Milk Quality Improvement Program in the Department of Food Science at Cornell University.
"Non-fecal coliforms are primarily environmental organisms that likely were introduced because a piece of equipment was not adequately cleaned or sanitized, not because of fecal contamination," she tells CNET.
Agri-Mark initiated the butter recall on March 26, but it came to public attention when the Food and Drug Administration classified the recall as a "Class III" on April 8.
The FDA has three classes of recalls. Class I is the most severe. The FDA describes a Class III recall as "a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences." In the eyes of the FDA, the butter recall was of low concern.
What butter is affected by the recall?
The scale of the butter recall is pretty small. Agri-Mark said it recovered 99.5% of the affected lot before it was sold to consumers. Just 17 retail packages consisting of 8.5 pounds of affected butter were sold in Vermont. "There have been no reported complaints or illnesses related to this product," Agri-Mark said in a statement on April 9.
Check your Cabot Creamery butter for the lot code 090925-055. If you're one of the few people who purchased the butter, then you should dispose of it or return it to the store where you purchased it.
There's no need for a dairy-induced panic. Says Martin, "This is exactly how the system should work, and there's no reason to be concerned."
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