Milk Recall Issued Before Thanksgiving

By Amanda Greenwood

Associate News Editor

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Prairie Farms, a farmer-owned dairy company, issued a voluntary recall of fat-free milk products on November 25, 2025—two days before Thanksgiving—over concerns they might contain food-grade cleaning agents, which may cause health issues if consumed.

Why it Matters

The recall was announced during a peak grocery shopping time—as many people across America were doing a big shop in preparation for Thanksgiving. The potentially contaminated milk products were sold in two mid-western states. Although food-grade cleaning agents aren’t as harsh as industrial chemical cleaning agents, they could still cause illness, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

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What To Know

The potentially contaminated milk—which was produced at the Prairie Farms Iowa facility—was distributed to Woodman’s stores in Illinois and Wisconsin, in gallon-sized bottles. Communities that may be affected include: 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.

The affected products are specifically marked with the code date "DEC08” and plant code "PLT19-145," and were processed within the time frame of 17:51 to 21:23 during production (only this section of the production cycle was impacted).

According to the announcement published by the FDA, about 320 gallons were distributed before the potential issue was discovered on November 24. Prairie Farms reported that food-grade cleaning agents may have contaminated the milk because of a production mishap. It immediately began investigating the issue once it was informed, and has since removed all remaining (potentially) affected products from retail shelves.

No other Prairie Farms products or plant code dates are affected by this recall.

Consumers who purchased the recalled milk are advised not to consume it. Instead, they should dispose of the milk or return it to where they purchased it for a full refund. The company has provided a contact email ([email protected]) for further consumer and media inquiries.

What People Are Saying

In the FDA release, Prairie Farms stated: "An investigation was immediately initiated, and based on that investigation, the affected product was removed from stores, and a recall was initiated. Approximately 320 gallons were sold before the issue was discovered."

What Happens Next

Prairie Farms is working closely with the FDA and Woodman’s to complete the recall investigation and ensure compliance with safety protocols. Consumers in affected regions are advised to check their refrigerators for the recalled product, particularly any Prairie Farms gallon fat-free milk labeled with the DEC08 code date and PLT19-145 plant code. No illnesses associated with the incident have been reported as of November 26, 2025. For those seeking additional details, visit the FDA’s recall page or contact Prairie Farms directly.

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