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A nationwide recall has been issued for more than 1.5 million bags of shredded cheese.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) warned that certain products may contain metal fragments. This poses a serious safety hazard that could cause injury if ingested.
The recall affects a wide variety of shredded cheeses. These include mozzarella, Italian-style, pizza-style, and blended varieties (such as mozzarella with provolone or parmesan).
Major retailers such as Walmart, Aldi, and Target (among others) sold these products under multiple private-label and store-brand names across roughly 31 U.S. states, including Puerto Rico.
Recalled cheese is also in Indiana and Kentucky
According to health.com, the recalled cheese was sold in 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.
Furthermore, according to the recall announcement, the producer, Great Lakes Cheese Co. Inc. of Hiram, Ohio, initially voluntarily pulled the products from store shelves on October 3. However, on December 1, the FDA elevated the recall’s classification to “Class II.”
This designation indicates that while the risk of life-threatening harm is low, the contaminated cheese poses a risk of temporary or medically reversible injury.
Health officials warned
Various reports say that health officials warn that ingesting metal fragments, such as stainless steel shards possibly introduced during the cheese-processing operation, can lead to serious problems. These include dental damage, cuts or lacerations in the mouth or throat, and potential injury to the stomach or intestines.
Affected packages vary in size, from small 8-ounce bags to larger 5-pound bulk packages.
Many have “sell-by” dates extending into early 2026. Because shredded cheese is often used in ready-to-eat dishes, such as salads, sandwiches, or as a topping, the risk of undetected metal exposure is elevated.
Retailers have reportedly pulled the affected products from shelves nationwide.
Consumers urged to double-check
The FDA recommends that consumers check their refrigerators and pantries. This is especially important if they purchased store-brand shredded cheese from Walmart, Aldi, Target, or other major chains in the last several months.
Discard any product matching the recall list, as identified by UPC and batch codes. Alternatively, return it to the place of purchase for a refund.
So far, no one has publicly reported illnesses or injuries in connection with the recalled cheese. However, health experts note that the risk remains significant, especially for children, older adults, and individuals with pre-existing dental or digestive issues.
Stricter oversight urged
In response to the incident, some food-safety advocates are calling for more stringent oversight of food-processing equipment. They emphasize improving supply-chain quality controls, particularly for packaging ready-to-eat products like shredded cheese.
The FDA’s recall notice states that the likely source of contamination was the raw material supplied to the cheese manufacturer.
Consumers who want to verify whether their cheese is affected can find a complete list of recalled products, including UPC numbers, package sizes, and sell-by dates, published by the FDA.
The agency urges caution and recommends against consuming any questionable shredded cheese until it is verified.
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