Shoppers at major retailers such as Aldi, Target, and Walmart may want to take a second look at their cheese purchases. A significant recall has been issued by Great Lakes Cheese Co., affecting over 260,000 cases of shredded cheese due to the risk of metal fragment contamination. This recall spans across 31 states and Puerto Rico, involving well-known store brands.
The recall impacts popular labels including Great Value from Walmart, Good & Gather from Target, Happy Farms by Aldi, along with Food Club and Always Save. The contamination has been traced back to raw materials supplied to the company, leading the FDA to classify this as a “downstream recall.”
The affected products encompass a variety of shredded cheese options such as mozzarella, Italian-style blends, and pizza-style blends. They come in packages ranging from 8 ounces to 32 ounces and have been distributed nationwide.
To ensure safety, consumers should verify if their cheese is part of the recall by checking batch numbers or sell-by dates on the packaging. The dates in question span from January 2026 to March 2026, depending on the specific product and brand.
Initially initiated in October, the recall was escalated by the FDA to a Class II recall on December 1. This classification indicates that while the risk of serious harm is low, the products could potentially cause temporary or medically reversible health issues. The primary concerns are the hazards of choking or injuries to the mouth, throat, or digestive tract due to the metal fragments.
The recall was initiated in October and upgraded by the FDA to a Class II recall on Dec. 1, meaning the products may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, though the probability of serious harm is relatively low. However, consuming metal fragments could pose choking hazards or cause injury to the mouth, throat, or digestive system.
Affected states include 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 and Wisconsin, as well as Puerto Rico.
Consumers who have purchased these products should not consume them and can return them to their point of purchase for a refund.
Recalled shredded cheese
- Always Save – Low-moisture part-skim mozzarella shredded cheese
- Batch: 0008909996, 0008918166, 0008916368
- Sell-by dates: 2/15/2026, 2/20/2026, 2/22/2026
- Borden – Low-moisture part-skim mozzarella shredded cheese
- Batch: 0008907003, 0008924424, 0008910598, 0008913670, 0008916551, 0008930620, 0008915022, 0008916601
- Sell-by dates: 2/12/2026, 2/16/2026, 2/17/2026, 2/20/2026, 3/18/2026, 3/19/2026, 3/25/2026, 3/27/2026
- Happy Farms by Aldi – Italian Style shredded cheese blend – 12 oz.
- Batch: 0008922982, 0008926344
- Sell-by dates: 2/22/2026, 2/23/2026
- Brookshire’s – Italian 6-Cheese blend
- Batch: 1500562884
- Sell-by date: 2/14/2026
- Cache Valley Creamery – Italian style shredded cheese blend
- Batch: 0008905387
- Sell-by date: 2/5/2026
- Coburn Farms – Italian style shredded cheese blend
- Batch: 0008913690
- Sell-by date: 2/15/2026
- Great Value – Italian style shredded cheese blend – Finely Shredded – 8 oz.
- Batch: 0008914472, 0008910495, 0008913930, 0008918115
- Sell-by dates: 2/12/2026, 2/13/2026, 2/16/2026
- Food Club – Finely Shredded Pizza Style Four Cheese Blend – 8 oz.
- Batch: 0008917666
- Sell-by date: 3/21/2026
- Econo – Pizza-Shredded – 8 oz.
- Batch: 0008924428
- Sell-by date: 3/18/2026
- Food Club – Pizza Style Two Cheese Blend – Finely Shredded – 8 oz.
- Batch: 0008911974, 0008916578
- Sell-by dates: 2/13/2026, 2/21/2026
- Food Club – Pizza Style Two Cheese Blend – Shredded – 32 oz.
- Batch: 0008902277, 0008884224, 0008924031
- Sell-by dates: 2/6/2026, 2/13/2026, 2/23/2026
- Gold Rush Creamery – Pizza style shredded cheese blend
- Batch: 0008912889
- Sell-by date: 3/15/2026
- Great Value – Pizza style shredded cheese blend
- Batch: 0008913974, 1500565689, 0008918844 ‘
- Sell-by dates: 2/14/2026, 2/15/2026, 2/20/2026
- Freedom’s Choice – Pizza Blend Fine-Cut – 32 oz.
- Batch: 0008922161
- Sell-by date: 2/22/2026
- Good & Gather – Mozzarella & Provolone Classic – 8 oz.
- Batch: 0008904402
- Sell-by date: 3/14/2026
- Great Lakes Cheese – Mozzarella and provolone shredded cheese blend
- Batch: 1500562637, 0008901792
- Sell-by dates: 1/14/2026, 1/15/2026
- Great Value – Mozzarella and provolone shredded cheese blend
- Batch: 1500558204, 0008911238, 0008922240, 0008915069
- Sell-by dates: 2/7/2026, 2/12/2026, 2/19/2026, 2/20/2026
- Good & Gather – Mozzarella & Parmesan shredded cheese blend – Fine Cut – 8 oz.
- Batch: 0008909918, 0008915148, 0008917542
- Sell-by dates: 3/15/2026, 3/21/2026, 3/22/2026
