A rush to make dinner should never come with the risk of swallowing metal. That’s why regulators flagged select bags of Shredded Cheese sold at major retailers, after screenings tied the issue to specific lots packed by Great Lakes Cheese Co. Inc. The voluntary alert began on October 3 and, on December 2, the FDA assigned a Class II risk, which signals low likelihood of serious harm, yet a real chance of temporary or reversible effects. Check labels, then act.
What the Shredded Cheese recall means right now
The recall targets bags distributed in 31 states and Puerto Rico through chains that millions use weekly, including Target, Walmart, Aldi, Publix, and regional grocers. Because metal fragments can chip teeth or cut tissue, the safest path is simple and fast: do not eat the affected bags, and return or discard them.
Class II matters because the FDA considers severe outcomes remote, although short-term issues are possible. That wording can sound abstract, yet it exists to guide action rather than spark panic. Medical care is rarely needed; still, if someone swallows a shard and feels pain, contacting a clinician quickly is wise.
The timeline helps you judge risk and urgency. Great Lakes Cheese started the recall on October 3, following internal checks. The FDA updated its classification on December 2 after reviewing details. Because packages circulate widely, stores may still pull inventory today, so your eyes—and your receipt—remain essential.
How the process likely unfolded and what to check
Contamination alerts often begin when in-plant screening or supplier issues suggest foreign material. Packaging machines can trap fragments, and while safeguards exist, rare misses happen. When they do, firms isolate lots, inform regulators, and send notices to retailers, who then remove products and post signs at shelves or service desks.
Your job is focused and doable. Compare brand, variety, and lot or “best if used by” dates against the recall list. Because private-label products share packers, the same cheese may wear different brand names in different stores. That’s why the labels matter more than the aisle where you bought it.
Even if an unopened bag looks fine, fragments may be too small to see. So, while common sense says “inspect it,” recall guidance goes further because visual checks cannot guarantee safety. Return eligible bags for a refund, or discard them. Save one photo of the front and back for your records.
Where Shredded Cheese was sold and under what names
Big retailers frequently source staples from national packers, then apply store brands. Great Lakes Cheese does this for many labels, which explains the long list below. Because branding shifts by region, a neighbor may see a different name for the same blend. Read the front panel, then confirm the variety.
Retail availability spans national names and local favorites. The same low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella, Italian-style blends, pizza blends, or mixed mozzarella/provolone/parmesan shreds appear under brands people trust. That’s why the recall feels broad: it rides on the packer’s footprint across chains, not a single marquee product.
One mention here is enough to flag it: certain bags of Shredded Cheese in this recall may contain metal fragments. Consequently, the risk is the same whether the label says “Great Value,” “Good & Gather,” “Happy Farms by Aldi,” or another name listed below; coverage depends on lot details, not price tag.
Every brand and blend impacted according to the FDA
Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Shredded Cheese — 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 by Aldi, 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, Sunnyside Farms.
Italian Style Shredded Cheese Blend — Happy Farms by Aldi, Brookshire’s, Cache Valley Creamery, Coburn Farms, Great Value, Know & Love, Laura Lynn, Publix, Simply Go.
Pizza Style Shredded Cheese Blend — Food Club, Econo, Gold Rush Creamery, Great Value, Laura Lynn, Simply Go.
Mozzarella and Provolone Shredded Cheese Blend — Freedom’s Choice, Good & Gather, Great Lakes Cheese, Great Value.
Mozzarella and Parmesan Shredded Cheese Blend — Good & Gather.
Where it shipped: 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. Keep the order as listed when you compare packaging.
What to do now: refunds, storage, and safer swaps
If a bag matches the recall list, stop using it. Return it to the store for a refund, or throw it away. Because recalls can expand, saving a quick phone photo of the front, back, and best-by date is useful. That way, you can confirm details if guidance updates.
Clean the shelf or bin where the bag sat, since packaging sometimes sheds residue. A simple wipe is enough. If anyone experiences mouth pain after eating recently opened shreds, store leftovers, note the date and brand, and talk to a healthcare professional. Clear notes speed helpful advice.
When you still need cheese for a recipe, choose sealed blocks or unaffected lots until retailers finish pulls. Because recipes often accept substitutes, you can swap part-skim mozzarella with a sliced fresh ball, a provolone-mozz mix, or pre-grated hard cheese. For this transition period, a single verified bag of Shredded Cheese that is not recalled also works.
Why careful action now reduces small risks later
Metal contamination alerts are rare, yet families depend on fast, transparent fixes. This is one of those moments when reading labels pays off. The FDA’s Class II status tells you the probability of severe harm is low, while a cautious response still makes sense. A few minutes today safeguard later meals built on Shredded Cheese.
