by Phoenix, AZ — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a recall of over 260,000 cases of shredded cheese sold in 31 states and Puerto Rico due to the potential presence of metal fragments. The recall affects multiple brands available at major retailers, including Target, Walmart, Publix, and Aldi, raising consumer safety concerns nationwide.
The FDA issued a Class II warning, indicating that while exposure to the recalled cheese may cause temporary or medically reversible health effects, the likelihood of serious consequences is considered remote. As of now, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the products.
Which Products Are Affected?
Great Lakes Cheese Co., Inc. initiated the recall on October 3 for a wide range of shredded cheese items, including:
- Happy Farms Shredded Italian Blend Cheese — 1,900 cases — UPC 4061463330949 — batch/sell-by dates: 0008922982 / 2/22/2026, 0008926344 / 2/23/2026
- Happy Farms Mozzarella Shredded Cheese — UPC 4061463330864, 4061463369413 — batch/sell-by dates: 1500560016 / 2/8/2026, 1500562694 / 2/14/2026, 0008915062 / 2/18/2026, 0008921597 / 2/21/2026, 0008914480 / 2/13/2026
Other impacted products include:
- Low-moisture part-skim shredded mozzarella from 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, Schnuck’s, Simply Go, Sprouts Farmers Market, Stater Bros. Markets, and Sunnyside Farms.
- Italian-style shredded cheese blends from Brookshire’s, Cache Valley Creamery, Coburn Farms, Great Value, Know & Love, Laura Lynn, Publix, Simply Go, and Happy Farms by Aldi.
- Shredded pizza-style cheese blends from Food Club, Econo, Gold Rush Creamery, Great Value, Laura Lynn, and Simply Go.
- Mozzarella and provolone blends from Freedom’s Choice, Good & Gather, Great Lakes Cheese, and Great Value, as well as a mozzarella and parmesan blend from Good & Gather.
The FDA maintains a complete list of affected products on its official website.
States and Territories Affected by the Recall
Consumers in the following areas should check their shredded cheese products carefully:
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.
Shoppers are advised to discard or return any affected products and avoid consumption to reduce the risk of injury from metal fragments.
Consumer Safety Guidance
The FDA emphasizes that vigilance is critical, even though no health incidents have been reported. Consumers should check the brand names, UPC codes, and batch/sell-by dates to ensure their products are not part of the recall. Retailers are also instructed to remove affected items from shelves immediately.
Have You Checked Your Cheese?
If you live in an affected state, take a moment to inspect your shredded cheese at home.
Comment below to share if you found any recalled products or how you are handling the recall — your experience could help others stay safe!
