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.

Analysis: Metal Contamination in Mozzarella Cheese – What Consumers Need to Know

The recent recall of shredded mozzarella cheese by Great Lakes Cheese Co. highlights a recurring issue in the U.S. cheese industry: metal contamination. While this recall is classified as Class II, meaning it could cause temporary health issues but is unlikely to result in severe injury, it underscores the need for increased vigilance from both consumers and food producers.

The recall affects over 350,000 cases across 31 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, with products sold under well-known brands like Great Value (Walmart), Good & Gather (Target), and Happy Farms (Aldi). The potential presence of metal fragments in food products is a serious concern, even if it is less likely to cause permanent harm in this case. This is not the first instance of metal contamination in the cheese industry. Similar recalls have occurred in previous years, highlighting a systemic issue that needs to be addressed at the manufacturing level.

Consumers should be proactive by inspecting cheese packaging carefully. In particular, those purchasing cheese blends may unknowingly be buying contaminated products, as the mozzarella could be mixed with other cheeses and not explicitly listed on the label. Affected products should be disposed of immediately or returned for a refund, as advised by the FDA.

This recall serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges within food safety regulations. Although this incident does not pose an immediate life-threatening risk, consumers must remain aware and continue to monitor FDA updates to ensure their safety.

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• Shredded Cheese Sold At Aldi, Walmart, And Other Big Stores Is Being Yanked From Shelves For A Dangerous Reason