Over 1.5 Million Bags of Cheese Sold at Walmart, Aldi, and Other Retailers Recalled for Potential Metal Contamination

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a recall affecting more than 1.5 million bags of shredded cheese made by Great Lakes Cheese Co. Inc., based in Ohio, citing possible contamination with metal fragments originating from supplier raw materials.

The recall was first announced in October, and on Dec. 1, the FDA designated it as a Class II recall, indicating that consuming the cheese “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.”

Foreign objects in food can pose several health hazards, including choking, dental damage, and injuries to the digestive tract. Small metal fragments, in particular, can block airways and are especially dangerous for children, older adults, and others with vulnerable health conditions.

How To Identify the Recalled Cheese

The recalled shredded cheese was distributed under several private-label brands, including Aldi, Target’s Good & Gather, and Walmart’s Great Value, and was found in stores in 31 states.

The cheese was sold at stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Puerto Rico.

Many private-label products are included in this recall; if you have shredded cheese in your fridge, please conduct a thorough check prior to consumption. A full list of products, UPCs, and best-by dates can be found on the FDA's site.

Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

• Always Save Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Borden Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Borden Thick Cut Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Brookshire's Finely Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Brookshire's Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese 
• Brookshire's Thick Cut 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 Club Finely Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Food Club 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 Fine Cut Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Good & Gather Classic Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Great Lakes Cheese Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Great Lakes Cheese Finely Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Happy Farms by Aldi Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• H-E-B Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• H-E-B Thick Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• H-E-B Shredded/Fancy Finamente Rallado Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Hill Country Fare Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Know & Love Fine Cut Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Know & Love Classic Cut Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Know & Love Thick Cut Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Laura Lynn Finely Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Laura Lynn Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Laura Lynn Thick Cut Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Lucerne Dairy Farms Finely Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Lucerne Dairy Farms Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Lucerene Dairy Farms Rustic Cut Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Nu Farm Fancy Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Pubix Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Schuck's Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Simply Go Classic Cut Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Simply Go Rustic Cut Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Sprouts Farmers Market Finely Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Sprouts Farmers Market Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• Statre Bros. Markets 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

Shredded Italian-Style Cheese

• Happy Farms by Aldi Italian-Style Shredded Cheese
• Brookshire's Italian 6 Cheese Finely Shredded
• Cache Valley Creamery Six Cheese Italian Finely Shredded
• Coburn Farms Italian Style Finely Shredded
• Great Value Italian Style Finely Shredded
• Know & Love Italian Style Fine Cut
• Laura Lynn Italian Blend Finely Shredded
• Publix Italian Six Cheese Blend Fancy Shredded
• Simply Go Italian Style Six Cheese Blend Fine Cut Shredded

Shredded Pizza-Style Cheese

• Food Club Finely Shredded Pizza Style Four Cheese Blend
• Econo Pizza Shredded
• Food Club Pizza Style Two Cheese Blend Finely Shredded
• Food Club Pizza Style Two Cheese Blend Shredded
• Gold Rush Creamery Pizza Blend Shredded
• Great Value Pizza Blend Shredded
• Laura Lynn Pizza Blend Finely Shredded
• Simply Go Pizza Blend Two Cheese Mix Classic Cut Shredded

Mozzarella and Provolone Shredded Cheese Blend

• Freedom's Choice Pizza Blend Fine-Cut
• Good & Gather Mozzarella & Provolone Classic
• Great Lakes Cheese Mozzarella & Provolone Shredded
• Great Value Provolone & Mozzarella Blend Shredded

Mozzarella and Parmesan Shredded Cheese Blend

• Good & Gather Mozzarella & Parmesan Shredded Cheese Blend

What To Do if You Have the Recalled Cheese

If you purchased any of the recalled shredded cheese products, do not eat them. Dispose of the product or return it to the store where you bought it.

If you have accidentally consumed the product and experience discomfort, please connect with your healthcare provider.