A significant food safety alert has been issued in the United States, impacting popular retail chains. Over 1.5 million bags of shredded cheese sold at major stores including Target, Aldi, and Walmart across California have been recalled. The action was initiated due to potential contamination with metal fragments, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
Scope and Details of the Recall
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that the Ohio-based Great Lakes Cheese Co began this voluntary recall in early October. The scale of the action is substantial, covering more than 260,000 cases of various shredded cheese products. On a recent Monday, the FDA elevated the recall's status to "Class II." This classification indicates that consumption of the affected items could lead to temporary or medically reversible health issues.
In a statement to The Times, Great Lakes Cheese Co explained the origin of the problem. A supplier of low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese alerted them about a recall due to foreign material. The company claims it acted swiftly by isolating the impacted raw material in its facilities and removing the packaged goods. "We instructed retailers to remove the products from store shelves after the announcement in October," their statement read. They also confirmed distributing new, safe products after the recalled items were pulled.
List of Affected Cheese Products
The FDA has identified a wide range of branded products under this recall. Consumers are advised to check their refrigerators for the following items:
Low-moisture part-skim mozzarella shredded cheese: This includes 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.
Italian-style shredded cheese blend: Affected brands are Brookshire’s, Cache Valley Creamery, Coburn Farms, Great Value, Know & Love, Laura Lynn, Publix, Simply Go, and Happy Farms.
Mozzarella and mild cheddar cheese blend: Check for Econo, Food Club, Gold Rush Creamery, Great Value, Laura Lynn, and Simply Go.
Mozzarella and non-smoked provolone cheese: Brands involved are Freedom’s Choice, Good & Gather, Great Lakes Cheese, and Great Value.
Ongoing Investigation and Consumer Advice
The FDA investigation into this widespread shredded cheese recall is still ongoing. For consumers, the immediate step is to identify any of the listed products and not consume them. The recall highlights the critical importance of robust food safety protocols across the supply chain. While the company states the contaminated products have been removed from shelves, vigilance is recommended. Anyone who has purchased these items should dispose of them or return them to the point of purchase for a full refund.
