Massive recall of shredded cheese: check your fridge for these brands
Over 1.5 million bags of shredded cheese from major retailers, including outlets in California, have been voluntarily recalled due to potential metal contamination, authorities announced.
The recall began in early October and was issued by Great Lakes Cheese Co., an Ohio-based producer, per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The voluntary action covered more than 260,000 cases of shredded cheese and stemmed from the possibility that metal fragments could be present in the products, according to an FDA notice.
The FDA upgraded the recall to Class II on Monday, indicating that use or exposure to the affected products could lead to temporary or medically reversible health effects.
FDA investigators continue to work on the recall. Great Lakes Cheese Co. did not respond to a Times request for comment at the time of publication.
Great Lakes Cheese Co. markets itself as a leading manufacturer and packager of natural and processed bulk, shredded, and sliced cheeses on its website.
What to know about the recall
What cheeses are affected?
The FDA has identified the following shredded cheese lots as part of the recall:
- 235,000 cases of low-moisture part-skim mozzarella shredded cheese, sold under brands such as Always Save, Borden, Brookshire’s, Cache Valley Creamery, Chestnut Hill, Coburn Farms, Econo, Food Club, Food Lion, Gold Rush Creamery, Good & Gather, Great Lakes Cheese, Happy Farms by Aldi, H-E-B, Hill Country Fare, Know & Love, Laura Lynn, Lucerne Dairy Farms, Nu Farm, Publix, Schnucks, Simply Go, Sprouts Farmers Market, Stater Bros. Markets, and Sunnyside Farms.
- 1,900 cases of Happy Farms by Aldi Italian-style shredded cheese blend.
- More than 15,000 cases of Italian-style shredded cheese blend from brands including Brookshire’s, Cache Valley Creamery, Coburn Farms, Great Value, Know & Love, Laura Lynn, Publix, Simply Go, and Happy Farms.
- 117 cases of Food Club finely shredded four-cheese pizza-style blend.
- More than 4,000 cases of mozzarella and mild cheddar blend from Econo, Food Club, Gold Rush Creamery, Great Value, Laura Lynn, and Simply Go.
- More than 4,000 cases of mozzarella and non-smoked provolone blend from Freedom’s Choice, Good & Gather, Great Lakes Cheese, and Great Value.
- More than 1,800 cases of Good & Gather mozzarella and parmesan blend.
These products carry sell-by dates from January through late March of the following year, per the FDA notice. A complete list of affected products and their UPC codes is available online.
Where were these products sold?
The affected shredded cheeses, available in five varieties and marketed under numerous brand names, were sold at Target, Walmart, Aldi, and other major retailers across the United States and Puerto Rico.
According to the FDA, distribution extended to 31 states and Puerto Rico, including 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.
What to do if you bought these products
The FDA did not publish specific handling instructions for the recalled cheeses. In general, recalled products should be returned to the place of purchase for a refund or discarded.
If any of the recalled cheese came into contact with fridge shelves or countertops, clean and disinfect the surfaces. After cleaning, wash hands with warm water and soap.
For more information, consult the FDA recall notice and the full product list with UPCs on the FDA’s website.
