FDA recalls shredded cheese due to potential metal fragment contamination: Various brands sold at Aldi, Target, and Walmart affected

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the recall of over 1 million bags of shredded cheese sold at major retailers, including Aldi, Target, Walmart, and Publix, in 31 states and Puerto Rico. The recall was initially initiated by Great Lakes Cheese Co. of Hiram, Ohio, in October after concerns that the cheese might contain metal fragments, which pose a risk of causing internal injuries if consumed.

This week, the FDA has upgraded the recall to a Class II designation, indicating that the affected products could cause temporary or medically reversible health issues.

Which shredded cheese products are affected by the recall?

The largest portion of the recall consists of nearly 236,000 cases of low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella shredded cheese. A full list of affected products, including sizes, UPCs, and best-by dates, is available on the FDA website. The brands included in the recall are:

• Always Save shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
• Brookshires finely shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
• Cache Valley Creamery shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
• Chestnut Hill fancy shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
• Coburn Farms shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
• Econo shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
• Food Lion shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
• Gold Rush Creamery shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
• Good & Gather finely shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
• Great Lakes Cheese shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
• Happy Farms by Aldi shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
• Hill Country Fare shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
• Lucerne Dairy Farms finely shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
• Publix shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
• Sprouts Farmers Market finely shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
• Stater Bros. Markets shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
• Sunnyside Farms shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese

Italian-style and pizza blend shredded cheeses affected

The recall also affects several Italian-style and pizza blend shredded cheeses, including:

• Brookshires Italian 6-cheese finely shredded
• Cache Valley Creamery 6-cheese Italian finely shredded
• Coburn Farms Italian-style finely shredded
• Great Value Italian-style finely shredded
• Happy Farms by Aldi Italian-style shredded cheese
• Simply Go Italian-style 6-cheese blend fine-cut shredded
• Econo pizza shredded finely shredded 4-cheese blend
• Gold Rush Creamery pizza blend shredded
• Great Value pizza blend shredded

Where were the recalled products sold?

The affected shredded cheese products were sold at retailers in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Puerto Rico. The products have sell-by dates ranging from January to March 2026.

What should you do if you purchased any of the recalled cheese products?

If you have purchased any of the affected shredded cheese, the FDA advises that you not consume them, including any that may have been frozen. Consumers can return the product to the store where it was purchased for a full refund, or dispose of it safely.

Author: Logan Reeves