Milk has long been a staple in Australian households, valued for its rich nutrients and versatility. Whether poured over breakfast cereal, added to a cuppa, or used in cooking, milk plays a vital role in daily life for many Australians, especially those over 50 who rely on it for calcium and bone health.
If you’ve popped into your local supermarket recently and picked up a bottle of milk, it’s time to check your fridge—and fast. Due to concerns over severe illness, an urgent recall for certain milk products sold at these major supermarkets.
The a2 Milk Company has issued an urgent recall on its a2 Light Milk 2L product due to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause severe illness, especially in vulnerable groups.
A batch of 2,497 bottles of a2 Light Milk 2L with the use-by date 06/06 and product number #41 has been recalled in Western Australia.
Most of these bottles have been successfully pulled off the shelves by Coles. However, there are still 50 bottles that have not been accounted for.
Listeria isn’t just a fancy word you hear on the news—it’s a real threat, particularly for pregnant women, unborn babies, newborns, older Australians, and anyone with a weakened immune system.
But don’t think you’re off the hook if you’re fit as a fiddle; even healthy adults can fall ill after consuming contaminated food.
Listeria symptoms can be sneaky at first—fever, headache, and diarrhoea are the most common—but the infection can become much more serious, leading to hospitalisation or worse in high-risk individuals.
Listeria is often found in refrigerated, ready-to-eat foods like deli meats, seafood, dairy, and produce, so it pays to be vigilant.
If you’ve got one of these in your fridge, don’t take any chances—stop using it immediately. Here’s what you should do:
- Return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund—no receipt required.
- If you’ve already consumed the milk and feel unwell, especially in a high-risk group, seek medical advice immediately.
For more information, contact the a2 Milk Company directly at [email protected] or call 1800 22 4632.
Not just milk: Other recent recalls
This isn’t the only food recall making headlines. Just recently, Protea Foods Pty Ltd recalled two popular snacks—Lekker Biltong Slices Traditional (100g) and Lekker Biltong Slices Peri-Peri Chilli (40g)—due to mould contamination from a packaging fault.
These products were sold in Coles supermarkets in New South Wales, independent retailers in Victoria and WA, and online in WA.
If you’ve got any of these snacks with batch numbers 08 0804 or 08 0904 and an expiry date of 11/01/2026, it’s time to bin them or return them for a refund.
Why do food recalls happen?
Food recalls are more common than you might think and are not always about bacteria. Sometimes foreign objects, undeclared allergens, or packaging faults put our health at risk.
Australia’s food safety standards are among the best in the world, but things can slip through the cracks even so. That’s why staying informed and acting quickly when recalls are announced is essential.
Here are some tips on how to stay safe with your purchases:
- Always check use-by dates and batch numbers, especially after a recall is announced.
- Store perishable foods at the correct temperature and follow storage instructions.
- If in doubt, throw it out—your health is worth more than a bottle of milk or a packet of snacks.
Have you ever had to return a recalled product? Did you get sick, or did you catch it in time? Share your experiences in the comments below—your story could help others stay safe.
Also read: Floods hit dairy farmers hard—is your milk supply at risk?
