The product was packaged specifically to prevent the issue that the FDA has just assigned with its second-highest risk level.
Nearly 20,000 Cases of a Popular Milk Brand Have Been Recalled in 3 States
Published on Jan. 18, 2025
Dairy milk’s been getting a lot of air time, between questions over the possibility of bird flu contamination and a rise among some groups in the popularity of raw milk (of which one brand was recalled in Connecticut late this week, according to Food Safety News). Amid this discourse, plenty of U.S. households stand by the benefits of milk. For some of these consumers, late Friday came yet more milk news, with a well known brand recalling product with long-lead expiration dates.
A report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revealed that on December 13, 2024, Colorado-based Horizon Organic Dairy, LLC, initiated a recall on 19,688 cases—or 236,256 eight-ounce containers—of Horizon Organic Aseptic Plain Whole Milk. Research suggests this refers to shelf-stable nonperishable single-serve whole milk drink boxes.
The FDA notes the product was distributed in Arizona, California and Nevada. It’s not clear whether any product was distributed further past those western region states, but synonymous lot codes and expiration dates are listed as the following four:
- BEST BEFORE/BY
- 03 MAR 2025
- 04 MAR 2025
- 06 MAR 2025
- 07 MAR 2025
Other identifying details include the following, according to the FDA report:
- UPC: 3663207113 (12 pack); 3663207127 (single unit)
- Distributed by: Horizon Organic Dairy, LLC (Horizon), Broomfield, CO 80021
Horizon Organic’s website page for the product specifies the milk is “safe to store at room temperature,” however, the FDA’s notice cites the reason for the recall as “Potential for premature product spoilage during shelf life.”
Horizon’s site explains how dairy milk can be produced to be shelf-stable: “For shelf-stable milk, we use UHT, or Ultra High Temperature, pasteurization,” the company states. “This process heats milk to a very high temperature for a few seconds, which destroys bacteria for a longer shelf life.” Airtight packaging is meant to keep air out, and the American Dairy Association Northeast explains the milk is then packaged in a sterile environment.
On January 17, the FDA assigned the recall with a class II risk level, by their definition meaning this is “a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”
It is not clear which retailers carried these specific lots, but one avenue of remedy may be to return the product to your place of purchase.
Horizon Dairy is a certified B-corp. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce explains that for a business to possess this legal structure means “shareholders hold the company accountable to produce a financial profit as well as some sort of public benefit.” As an organic dairy, it’s likely at least some of the public benefit Horizon Organic ensures is for eco-sustainability.
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