Over 1 Million Bags of Cheese Recalled for Possible Metal Pieces

More than one million bags of cheese sold at Walmart, Target, and Aldi have been recalled for possibly containing metal pieces, according to an updated FDA report.

Ohio-based Great Lakes Cheese Co. initiated the recall October 3, stating the affected cheese may be contaminated with metal fragments, which could cause injury if consumed.

The FDA reclassified the recall to "Class II" on December 1, meaning the food "may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences."

Translation: eating metal fragments won't kill you, but it's not great.

The recalled cheese was sold in 31 states under multiple brand names, including store brands like Good & Gather, Great Value, Publix, Sprouts, and Happy Farms.

"All recalled products have been removed from markets and replaced with new products," Great Lakes Cheese said in a statement December 3. "Further, the products currently on retail shelves are safe to consume and not associated with the October recall."

So if you bought this cheese recently, it's probably fine. If you bought it in October and still have it in your fridge, toss it.

What Got Recalled

Low-moisture part-skim mozzarella shredded cheese in plastic bags. Various sizes from 8 oz. to 5 lb. packages.

Also Italian-style shredded cheese blends containing mozzarella, provolone, parmesan, romano, fontina, and asiago.

Plus pizza-style shredded cheese blends with mozzarella and mild cheddar.

And mozzarella-provolone blends.

Basically, a lot of shredded cheese sold under a lot of different brand names.

The full list includes 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, Great Value, Happy Farms, 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.

If you shop at Walmart, Target, Aldi, or pretty much any major grocery chain, check if you bought shredded mozzarella or Italian blend cheese in October.

Where It Was Sold

The cheese was distributed in 31 states and Puerto Rico:

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.

That's most of the country. If you're in one of these states and bought shredded cheese from a major grocery chain in October, check the brand and UPC code against the recall list.

What to Do

Check your fridge and freezer for any affected items from October. If you have any, throw them away or return them to the store for a refund.

Don't eat cheese that might contain metal fragments. Seems obvious, but worth stating explicitly.

The company says all recalled products have been removed from store shelves and replaced with new products. Current inventory is safe.

But if you bought this cheese in October and froze it thinking you'd use it later, now's the time to check the UPC code and toss it if it's on the recall list.

The Metal Fragment Problem

Metal contamination in food happens occasionally during manufacturing. Equipment breaks down. Small pieces of machinery end up where they shouldn't.

Eating metal fragments can cause injuries—cuts in your mouth, throat, or digestive tract. Usually not life-threatening but definitely not something you want mixed into your pizza cheese.

That's why it's a Class II recall. Not the most serious classification (that's Class I for things that could kill you), but serious enough that the FDA wants everyone aware.

Check the List

The FDA enforcement report lists every affected product with brand names, sizes, and UPC codes. If you bought shredded mozzarella or Italian blend cheese in October from any major grocery chain, check the list.

Look for the UPC code on the package. Match it against the recall list. If it's on there, toss it.

Great Lakes Cheese says everything has been removed from stores. But people freeze cheese. If you froze bags from October thinking you'd use them later, check before making tacos or pizza.

Metal fragments in your quesadilla aren't worth the risk.

The Bottom Line

Over 1 million bags of shredded cheese recalled for possible metal contamination. Sold at major chains across 31 states. Company says all recalled products removed from stores and current inventory is safe.

The full recall list with all brand names and UPC codes is available on the FDA website. When you're dealing with over 1 million bags across dozens of brand names, checking the specific UPC code is the only way to know for sure.

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