Cabot Butter Recalled for Possible Fecal Contamination

Agri-Mark Inc. is recalling over 1,700 pounds of Cabot butter sold in several states. The recall was issued because the butter contains “elevated levels” of coliform, a bacteria found in feces, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The recall impacts one lot of butter, but it’s generating plenty of attention due to its major yuck factor. As of this time, no illnesses have been reported from this recall. Here’s what you need to know about the recall, plus how fecal bacteria can even end up in butter in the first place. 

What is the Cabot butter recall?

The Cabot butter recall impacts 8-ounce packages of Cabot Creamery Premium Butter, Sea Salted. The butter comes in two 4-ounce sticks and has a UPC number of “0 78354 62038 0.” The butter’s best-by date is September 9, 2025, and the packaging features lot numbers “090925-055” and “2038.”

The butter was sold in seven states, per the FDA:

• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• Maine
• New Hampshire
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Vermont

But an Agri-Mark spokesperson told Well+ Good that the recall is “very limited,” noting that 99.5 percent of the butter was pulled before it reached consumers. “Only 17 packages—8.5 pounds—were sold at retail, and all of those were sold in Vermont,” the representative said. 

What makes this recall dangerous?

The FDA has given this recall a Class III designation, which is the agency’s least serious recall classification. A Class III recall is used to describe “a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences,” according to the FDA.

Ellen Shumaker, Ph.D., food safety expert and director of outreach for the Safe Plates program at North Carolina State University, agrees that you’re unlikely to get seriously ill from having the contaminated butter. “Most coliforms are not harmful, but could cause mild digestive issues including nausea, diarrhea, or stomach cramps,” she says. So, while it may be gross, eating the recalled butter is unlikely to make you sick. 

Wade Syers, D.Soc.Sci., extension specialist for food safety at Michigan State University Extension, agrees. "Most coliform bacteria do not cause serious disease, and they are usually used as indicator organisms," Syers says. "If a sample comes back positive for coliforms, it is often tested for E. coli—E.coli is known to cause foodborne illness."

How does fecal matter end up in butter?

It’s not clear in this situation how the contamination occurred. However, Shumaker says there are a few ways this could happen.

“Coliforms are a type of bacteria that are found in the environment and in the digestive tracts of animals, including humans,” she says. “They often end up in foods due to contamination from the environment, poor handling practices, and/or insufficient processing.”

The presence of coliforms in a food usually means something has gone wrong with sanitation, Shumaker says. “Coliforms are used as an indicator of how well sanitation and other processing steps are working,” she explains. “The presence of coliforms indicates that pathogens could be present.” 

While Agri-Mark didn’t detail how the coliforms ended up in the butter, the company spokesperson said that the brand “has identified the cause and has taken the appropriate internal actions to address it.”

What to do if you have Cabot butter at home

If you have the recalled Cabot butter at home, don’t eat it. Instead, return it to the store where you purchased it for a possible refund or throw it out. If you have any concerns, Agri-Mark recommends contacting Cabot at [email protected] or 1-888-792-2268. 

If you accidentally ate the recalled butter and you’re having digestive issues, Shumaker recommends contacting a healthcare provider about next steps.