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Health authorities in the United States are urging shoppers to check their fridges after a batch of Prairie Farms fat-free milk was recalled over fears it may contain traces of a cleaning agent.
What triggered the Prairie Farms milk recall?
Prairie Farms, one of the largest regional dairy brands in the US Midwest, has announced a voluntary recall of a specific batch of its gallon fat-free milk after discovering that some bottles may contain food-grade cleaning agents used to sanitise equipment at its Dubuque, Iowa, plant.
The company says it became aware of a “potential quality issue” on 24 November and moved to pull the affected milk from shelves the following day, working with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and local retailers. While no illnesses have been reported so far, regulators say the milk could cause sickness if consumed and should not be drunk as a precaution.
UK newspaper The Independent reported that the affected Prairie Farms milk may contain traces of cleaning agents and urged customers to check date codes before consumption.
Which Prairie Farms milk bottles are affected?
The recall is tightly focused on a single product and a narrow production window. Shoppers are being asked to check the fine print on the jug and look for the following details:
- Product: Prairie Farms Gallon Fat Free Milk
- Code date: DEC08 (printed on the jug)
- Plant code: PLT19-145
- Production time: between 17:51 and 21:23 on that date
- UPC barcode: 7273023117
- Facility: Dubuque, Iowa
If your Prairie Farms milk does not match this combination of date, plant code and timing, it is not included in this recall. Other Prairie Farms products, including different fat levels and flavours, are unaffected.
Where was the recalled milk sold?
The recalled gallons were shipped exclusively to Woodman’s Markets in parts of Illinois and Wisconsin. According to recall notices, affected stores include locations in Bloomingdale, Buffalo Grove, Carpentersville, Lakemoor, North Aurora and Rockford in Illinois, and Appleton, Beloit, Green Bay, Janesville, Kenosha, Madison, Menomonee Falls, Oak Creek, Onalaska, Racine, Sun Prairie and Waukesha in Wisconsin.
That means the issue is currently limited to those Woodman’s stores. If you live in other US states or buy Prairie Farms milk from a different supermarket chain, this specific recall is unlikely to apply to you — but it is still worth checking the date and plant code on any gallon of fat-free milk you have at home.
Why are cleaning agents such a concern?
Dairy plants use powerful cleaning and sanitising solutions to keep pipes, tanks and bottling lines hygienic. These chemicals are food-grade, but they are not meant to end up in the product. If residues remain in the equipment and are not fully rinsed away, they can mix with the milk and cause problems ranging from stomach upset and vomiting to irritation of the mouth and throat.
Regulators stress that any amount of unintended cleaning agent is taken seriously, particularly in a staple food such as milk that is routinely given to children. Even without confirmed illnesses, the safest course of action is to recall the product and ask consumers not to drink it.
What should you do if you bought the recalled milk?
If you find a Prairie Farms gallon of fat-free milk in your fridge that matches the DEC08 date and PLT19-145 plant code, you should:
- Stop using it immediately. Do not taste or smell it to “check” if it seems normal — the contamination may not be obvious.
- Dispose of the milk safely by pouring it down the sink and recycling the container, or return the intact jug to the Woodman’s store where you bought it.
- Ask for a refund or replacement. Woodman’s and Prairie Farms have said customers are entitled to a full refund for affected milk.
- Contact your doctor if you or a family member drank the milk and now feel unwell — especially if you experience nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or burning sensations in the mouth or throat.
Prairie Farms has also published a contact email for questions about the recall: media@prairiefarms.com.
How big is the recall?
The company estimates that around 320 gallons of the affected milk were sold before the issue was caught. All remaining jugs from the impacted batch have been removed from store shelves, but some may still be sitting in home refrigerators, which is why the recall is now spreading across news sites and search trends.
For context, this is a relatively small recall compared with some nationwide food scares — but because milk is consumed widely by young children, older adults and people with health conditions, officials treat even limited chemical contamination as a serious matter.
Should you be worried about buying milk?
Experts emphasise that this recall does not mean milk in general has suddenly become unsafe. What it highlights is that quality-control systems can pick up rare problems and trigger recalls before widespread harm occurs. For most shoppers, the best response is simply to check the label carefully, follow the recall advice and continue to handle milk as you normally would: keeping it cold, watching the use-by date and discarding it if it smells sour.
Swikblog has also been tracking how regulation is reshaping other everyday consumer habits — from food safety to technology — including Australia’s new online rules in
this guide to which apps teens can still use after December 10,
which explores how families are responding to major changes affecting daily life.
Where to find official information and updates
Consumers who want to double-check the details can read the full recall notice on the FDA website, which sets out the exact codes, times and locations involved. Several US outlets, including NBC Chicago and national health publications, have also summarised the recall and reiterated the advice not to drink any affected milk.
If you are in doubt, the safest rule is simple: when in doubt, throw it out. No jug of milk is worth risking your family’s health.
Written by Swikblog Health Desk
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you feel unwell after consuming any food or drink, please seek advice from a healthcare professional or your local poison information centre.
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