If you recently bought a gallon of fat-free milk from Woodman’s Markets, check the label. Prairie Farms announced a recall on November 25, 2025, for certain gallons of fat-free milk after discovering possible contamination with food-grade cleaning agents.

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Recall Announcement: November 25, 2025 · Product: Prairie Farms Gallon Fat Free Milk · Code Date: DEC08 · Plant Code: PLT19-145 · Contaminant: Food-grade cleaning agents · Affected Retailer: Woodman’s Markets (Illinois & Wisconsin)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • How cleaning agents entered the milk (mechanical failure or human error?)
  • Whether any consumers have become ill (none reported as of the recall date)
  • Will the recall expand to other Prairie Farms products?
3Timeline signal
  • Nov 24, 2025 – Prairie Farms learns of potential issue (Food Safety News)
  • Nov 25, 2025 – Recall announced; FDA posts notice (Food Safety News)
  • Nov 28, 2025 – USA Today reports ~320 gallons sold (USA Today)
  • Nov 26–30, 2025 – Woodman’s removes product from shelves (company action) (Food Safety News)
4What’s next
  • Consumers should check their milk and return or discard recalled units
  • Prairie Farms will investigate the contamination source
  • FDA will monitor for any illness reports

Eight key details, one pattern: the recall touches a single product SKU at a single retailer chain, making identification straightforward.

Label Value
Product Prairie Farms Gallon Fat Free Milk
Size Gallon (128 fl oz)
Code Date DEC08
Plant Code PLT19-145
Reason for Recall Potential food-grade cleaning agent contamination (FDA)
Recall Initiation Date November 25, 2025
Retailer Woodman’s Markets (Illinois and Wisconsin)
Contact Prairie Farms customer service (via website)

What happened to Prairie Farms milk?

On November 25, 2025, Prairie Farms voluntarily recalled a portion of its Gallon Fat Free Milk after discovering that the product may contain food-grade cleaning agents. The company acted after receiving a quality report on November 24, according to Food Safety News. The recall was proactive, not triggered by a known illness.

Recall timeline and announcement

  • November 24, 2025 – Prairie Farms identifies a potential contamination issue after a quality check (Food Safety News).
  • November 25, 2025 – The company initiates a recall and notifies the FDA. The FDA posts the recall notice (FDA recall notice).
  • November 26–30, 2025 – Woodman’s Markets removes all affected product from store shelves and posts in-store notices (company action).
  • December 1, 2025 – Local and national outlets including ABC7 Chicago cover the recall (media reporting).

Reason for the recall

The recall is driven by the potential presence of food-grade cleaning agents in the milk. According to the FDA recall notice, the cleaning agents were introduced during production at Prairie Farms’ Dubuque, Iowa facility. The affected milk was processed between 17:51 and 21:23 on the date of the DEC08 code date. USA Today reported that approximately 320 gallons were sold before the issue was discovered.

Bottom line: The recall is limited to a single production window. Prairie Farms caught the problem early, but consumers who bought milk from Woodman’s between late November and early December should check their gallons immediately.

Is Prairie Farms milk safe to drink?

Only the specific recalled product poses a risk. The FDA states that consumption of food-grade cleaning agents may cause illness, and advises against drinking the recalled milk. No reports of illness have been confirmed as of the recall date.

Risk to consumers

The cleaning agents are considered “food-grade,” meaning they are approved for use in food processing facilities, but they are not intended for direct consumption. Ingesting them can cause gastrointestinal discomfort or more serious symptoms depending on the concentration. The USA Today report emphasises that the risk is low, but caution is warranted.

Official guidance from the FDA and Prairie Farms

  • Do not consume the recalled milk.
  • Return it to Woodman’s Markets for a full refund, or discard it safely.
  • The FDA confirms that all remaining affected product has been removed from store shelves (FDA).
  • Consumers with symptoms should contact a healthcare provider.

The implication: clear FDA guidance removes ambiguity for anyone holding the recalled product.

Why this matters

A single batch of milk at one retailer chain is the only threat, but without clear communication, consumers might panic or ignore the warning. The FDA’s quick action limits exposure, but the onus is on shoppers to check their refrigerators.

Which Prairie Farms milk was recalled?

The recall is tightly confined to one product: Prairie Farms Gallon Fat Free Milk with a specific code date and plant code. Other Prairie Farms products—like 2%, whole, chocolate, or reduced-fat milk—are not affected.

Exact product description

  • Product: Prairie Farms Gallon Fat Free Milk
  • Size: Gallon (128 fl oz)
  • Code Date: DEC08
  • Plant Code: PLT19-145
  • Production plant: Dubuque, Iowa (FDA)
  • Production time window: 17:51 to 21:23 on the DEC08 run (FDA)

What products are NOT affected

  • Any Prairie Farms milk with a code date other than DEC08
  • Any plant code other than PLT19-145
  • All other Prairie Farms varieties (2%, 1%, whole, chocolate, buttermilk, etc.)
  • Any Prairie Farms milk sold outside Woodman’s Markets

The catch: the code date is printed on the top of the gallon jug. Consumers should look for “DEC08” and “PLT19-145” to determine if their milk is part of the recall.

Where is Prairie Farms milk sold?

Prairie Farms distributes milk across the Midwest, but this recall is tied exclusively to Woodman’s Markets stores in Illinois and Wisconsin. Woodman’s is a regional grocery chain with locations in both states.

Retail locations involved

  • All Woodman’s Markets in Illinois (including Chicago-area stores) and Wisconsin.
  • The affected product was not shipped to any other retailer.
  • Woodman’s has removed the recalled milk from shelves as of November 26–30, 2025.

Other states where Prairie Farms milk is sold

Prairie Farms has a broad distribution network across the Midwest and parts of the South. However, the affected batch was only sent to Woodman’s. Consumers in other states—or those shopping at different stores in Illinois and Wisconsin—are not impacted by this recall. Food Safety News confirms that contamination was limited to a single production run.

Bottom line: If you bought Prairie Farms fat free milk from a Woodman’s store in November 2025, check the code date. If you bought the same brand from a different store, your milk is safe.

What to do if you have recalled Prairie Farms milk?

If you have a gallon of Prairie Farms Fat Free Milk with code date DEC08 and plant code PLT19-145, take action immediately. The FDA and Prairie Farms provide clear steps.

Steps for consumers

  1. Stop drinking the milk immediately.
  2. Check the label for the code date (DEC08) and plant code (PLT19-145).
  3. Return the product to any Woodman’s Markets store for a full refund. No receipt is required.
  4. Alternatively, discard the milk safely by pouring it down the drain or throwing away the container.
  5. Contact Prairie Farms through their website if you have questions or need further assistance.
  6. Monitor your health if you or a family member already consumed the milk. Contact a doctor if you experience nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain.

Refund and disposal information

Woodman’s Markets is accepting returns for the recalled product. The FDA recall notice states that consumers may also discard the milk and are not required to provide proof of purchase for a refund. Prairie Farms’ customer service can be reached via their official website.

Contact details for Prairie Farms

No dedicated recall phone number was provided in the FDA release. Consumers should visit the Prairie Farms website or call the general customer service line listed there. Woodman’s store staff can also assist with returns.

What to watch

If you feel unwell after drinking the recalled milk, seek medical attention. While no illnesses have been reported, any symptoms should be taken seriously. Report adverse events to the FDA’s MedWatch program.

Bottom line: Prairie Farms and Woodman’s have made it easy to get your money back. The real action is checking your refrigerator now.
The upshot

This recall is a textbook example of early containment: one product, one retailer, one production window. The lesson for shoppers is to keep recall awareness sharp, especially after a holiday season when milk consumption spikes.

Confirmed facts

  • Recall date: November 25, 2025 (FDA)
  • Product: Prairie Farms Gallon Fat Free Milk, code DEC08, plant PLT19-145 (FDA)
  • Contaminant: food-grade cleaning agents (FDA)
  • Distributed only to Woodman’s Markets in Illinois and Wisconsin (FDA)
  • Approximately 320 gallons sold (USA Today)
  • No reported illnesses (FDA)
  • Company learned of issue on Nov 24, 2025 (Food Safety News)
  • Product produced at Dubuque, Iowa facility (FDA)

What’s unclear

  • Exactly how cleaning agents entered the milk (mechanical failure vs. human error)
  • Whether any consumers will develop symptoms (none reported yet)
  • If the recall will extend to other products or production dates
  • What specific cleaning agent was involved (brand, concentration)
Additional sources

people.com, abc7chicago.com, cmmonline.com, instagram.com, prevention.com, local12.com, youtube.com, facebook.com, facebook.com

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Frequently asked questions

Common questions about the Prairie Farms milk recall, answered with the latest information.

What other Prairie Farms products are affected?

Only Prairie Farms Gallon Fat Free Milk with code date DEC08 and plant code PLT19-145 is recalled. No other products from Prairie Farms are part of this recall.

How can I tell if my milk is part of the recall?

Check the code date and plant code printed on the top of the gallon jug. If it reads DEC08 and contains PLT19-145, the milk is recalled.

Can I still drink Prairie Farms milk from other code dates?

Yes. Only the specific DEC08 / PLT19-145 combination is affected. Milk with any other code date or plant code is safe to consume.

What should I do if I already drank the recalled milk?

Monitor your health. If you experience nausea, vomiting, or stomach discomfort, consult a doctor. No illnesses have been reported to date.

How do I contact Prairie Farms for a refund?

Return the milk to your local Woodman’s Market for a full refund. You can also contact Prairie Farms through their website’s customer service portal.

Is the recall related to any other dairy recalls?

No. This recall is an isolated incident at Prairie Farms’ Dubuque facility. There are no ongoing dairy recalls linked to this event.

How long will the recall process take?

Retailers removed the affected product from shelves within days. Consumers can return or discard recalled milk immediately. The investigation into the cause may take weeks.