The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released an updated notice regarding a nationwide recall of shredded cheese products distributed to several major retail chains, including Aldi, Target, and Walmart. According to the agency, more than 260,000 cases of shredded cheese may contain metal fragments, prompting officials to elevate their advisory and urge consumers to take immediate precautions. The update follows recent concerns in the dairy sector, including a separate recall involving Prairie Farms milk, which was withdrawn due to potential contamination from a food-grade cleaning substance.
The shredded cheese recall was first initiated on October 3 by Great Lakes Cheese Co., a manufacturer based in Ohio. On December 1, the FDA reclassified the situation as a Class II recall, a category indicating that exposure to the affected product could lead to temporary or medically reversible health issues. While the classification suggests the risk is not life-threatening, the agency emphasized that any product possibly containing metal fragments should not be consumed under any circumstances.
The affected shredded cheese products were widely distributed across more than 30 states, spanning regions from the Southeast to the Pacific Northwest. States listed in the recall notice include Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the territory of Puerto Rico. This broad distribution means millions of consumers may have purchased the products through both national retail chains and local grocery stores.
The recalled cheese covers a wide range of varieties, including mozzarella, Italian blends, pizza mixes, and other popular shredded combinations. The products were sold under numerous brand names, many of which are familiar private-label brands used by major retailers. Packaging sizes also varied considerably, from eight-ounce bags commonly used for home cooking to larger bulk packages often stocked for family or commercial use. The FDA noted that both older and upcoming best-by dates may appear on the affected items.
Regulators have advised consumers to check refrigerators and freezers carefully, as many people store shredded cheese for extended periods. Anyone who purchased the products should dispose of them immediately or return them to the retailer for a refund. The agency stressed that even frozen bags should be considered unsafe if they match any of the recalled brand names, lot codes, or packaging descriptions.
A partial list of affected products includes numerous low-moisture part-skim mozzarella varieties, Italian style blends, pizza blends, and mixed mozzarella products sold under brand names such as Always Save, Borden, Brookshire’s, Cache Valley Creamery, Coburn Farms, Food Club, Food Lion, Good & Gather, Great Value, Happy Farms, H-E-B, Laura Lynn, Lucerne, Publix, Sprouts Farmers Market, Stater Bros. Markets, Sunnyside Farms, and others. Because the recall spans dozens of store brands and manufacturing labels, the FDA encourages consumers to review the complete enforcement report for detailed identification information.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation and update retailers as new information becomes available. While the recall remains precautionary, officials underline that ingesting any foreign object, including small metal fragments, poses a potential health hazard. Consumers seeking additional information can reference the FDA's official recall database, where ongoing updates and documentation are maintained.
