Dangerous Reason Leads to Recall of Shredded Cheese at Aldi, Walmart, and Other Big Stores

If you were planning to top your pizza or tacos with shredded cheese tonight, its important to check your packages carefully. On December 1, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recall for low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella shredded cheese produced by Great Lakes Cheese Co., Inc. This cheese was sold at large grocery chains, including Aldi and Walmart, under multiple brand names.

The recall was prompted by the risk of metal fragments in the cheese, which could pose a serious health hazard. More than 350,000 cases are affected, spanning 31 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. Popular brands included in the recall are Walmarts Great Value, Targets Good & Gather, and Aldis Happy Farms. Smaller retailers like H-E-B, Food Lion, Publix, and Sprouts Farmers Market also carried the impacted products.

Some products blended the contaminated mozzarella with other types of cheese, such as parmesan and provolone, and in certain cases, mozzarella was not listed explicitly on the label. Names like pizza-style four-cheese blend or Italian-style shredded cheese blend may still contain the affected mozzarella. Consumers should carefully inspect their cheese packages and check for any mozzarella content.

Anyone who has purchased a recalled product should dispose of it immediately or return it to the store for a refund. Detailed information, including brand names, batch numbers, and sell-by dates, is available on the FDAs recall notice.

This recall has been classified as Class II, indicating that consuming the affected cheese could cause temporary or reversible health issues, but serious or permanent injury is unlikely. Class II is the second most serious classification, just below Class I, which involves products that could cause severe harm or death. Past instances of serious cheese recalls include Boars Head Pecorino Romano, linked to Listeria contamination.

Metal contamination has been a recurring problem in the U.S. cheese industry. Great Lakes Cheese Co. faced a similar recall in 2019 for American cheese, and Aldi had to pull Colby Jack shredded cheese earlier in 2025 due to the same issue. Staying updated on FDA alerts can help consumers avoid potentially hazardous food products.

Author: Noah Whitman