On December 1, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) formally classified the recall as Class II, indicating that the product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health effects. Although no injuries have been reported, the agency and the cheese producer are urging consumers to act with caution.
Affected Products Span Multiple Retailers and Private-Label Brands
The recall originated with Great Lakes Cheese Co. Inc., a company based in Hiram, Ohio, which voluntarily pulled several shredded cheese products from the market starting in October 2025. According to the FDA, the products may contain metal fragments introduced during processing via contaminated raw materials supplied to the manufacturer. The affected cheeses were sold under a wide range of private labels, including:
- Happy Farms (sold at Aldi) – Italian Blend and Mozzarella Shredded Cheese
- Good & Gather (Target) – Mozzarella & Parmesan blend
- Great Value (Walmart) – assorted shredded varieties
- Food Club – Four Cheese Pizza Style blend
These cheeses were typically sold in 8 to 32-ounce plastic bags, either as standalone items or in multi-packs. The FDA reports that the recalled products were distributed across 31 U.S. states: 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.
Batch numbers, UPC codes, and sell-by dates for each product can be found on the FDA’s website, which offers a comprehensive list for verification. The agency advises consumers to check all shredded cheese in their refrigerators and not to consume any affected product.
No Injuries Reported, but FDA Urges Caution Due to Physical Hazard
While no adverse health effects have been reported as of December 1, the FDA’s decision to classify the recall as Class II underscores the seriousness of the situation. According to the agency, ingestion of metal fragments could cause oral injuries, digestive tract lacerations, or choking, especially in children or elderly individuals.
“Foreign material in food products presents health risks, including choking, damage to teeth and digestive tract injury,” the FDA notes in its official advisory. The agency lists metal-to-metal contact during mechanical processing, such as cutting or blending, as one of the likely causes of contamination in food production lines.
Great Lakes Cheese confirmed that the contamination issue stemmed from materials provided by external suppliers, but did not disclose the supplier’s identity. The company has since expanded the recall to include all potentially affected batches, distributed over the past few months.
The recall remains ongoing, and both the FDA and Great Lakes Cheese urge consumers to return any impacted product to the point of purchase for a full refund, or to safely dispose of the cheese at home. For those uncertain about a product’s status, the best course of action is to err on the side of caution. More details, including batch identification guides and safe handling instructions, are available on the FDA’s official recall page.
