Large recall of shredded cheese initiated due to discovery of metal pieces in the product

Consumers are being urged to check their homes for shredded cheese following a recall by Great Lakes Cheese Co. Various brands of shredded mozzarella and cheese blends have been pulled from shelves after metal fragments were detected in the products.

The recall affects items with sell-by dates from January to March 2026 and includes sales from major retailers such as Target, Aldi, Publix, and Walmart across 31 states. Cheese currently on store shelves is not part of the recall, but consumers may still have the affected products at home.

Affected Shredded Cheese Products

• Low-moisture part-skim mozzarella shredded cheese: Always Save 5-lb bags (UPC 7003865782), Borden 8-oz bags (UPC 5300007162, 5300007170), Brookshire's 8-oz and 32-oz bags (multiple UPCs), Cache Valley Creamery 8-oz bag (UPC 7495802553), Chestnut Hill 8-oz bag (UPC 3225116742), Coburn Farms 8-oz, 12-oz, 32-oz bags (multiple UPCs), Econo 8-oz bag (UPC 893800294), Food Club 8-oz, 16-oz, 32-oz bags (multiple UPCs), Food Lion 8-oz bag (UPC 3582609008), Gold Rush Creamery 8-oz and 32-oz bags (UPC 1401401014, 1401401030), Good and Gather 8-oz and 32-oz bags (multiple UPCs), Great Lakes Cheese 5-lb bags (UPC 3651415034), Great Value 8-oz, 16-oz, 32-oz, 5-lb bags (multiple UPCs), Happy Farms by Aldi 16-oz and 32-oz bags (multiple UPCs), H-E-B 8-oz bags (multiple UPCs), Hill County Fare 8-oz, 16-oz, 32-oz, 5-lb bags (multiple UPCs), Know & Love 8-oz, 16-oz, 32-oz bags (multiple UPCs), Laura Lynn 8-oz, 12-oz, 16-oz bags (multiple UPCs), Lucerne Dairy Farms 8-oz, 32-oz bags (multiple UPCs), Nu Farm 8-oz bags (UPC 3104100151), Publix 8-oz, 16-oz bags (multiple UPCs), Schnuck's 8-oz bags (UPC 4131858010), Simply Go 8-oz, 32-oz bags (multiple UPCs), Sprouts Farmers Markets 8-oz, 32-oz bags (multiple UPCs), Stater Bros. Markets 8-oz, 32-oz bags (multiple UPCs), Sunnyside Farms 16-oz, 32-oz bags (multiple UPCs).
• Shredded cheese blends: Brookshire's Italian 6-Cheese 8-oz bag (UPC 9282510174), Cache Valley Creamery Six Cheese Italian 8-oz bag (UPC 7495800257), Coburn Farms Italian Style 12-oz bag (UPC 5193365638), Econo Pizza 8-oz bag (UPC 893800297), Food Club Pizza Style Two Cheese Blend 8-oz, 32-oz bags (multiple UPCs), Food Club Finely Shredded Pizza Style Four Cheese Blend 8-oz bag (UPC 3680017231), Freedom's Choice Pizza Blend 32-oz bag (UPC 4279810410), Gold Rush Creamery Pizza Blend 32-oz bag (UPC 1401401030), Good & Gather Mozzarella & Provolone 5-lb bag (UPC 3651415115), Good & Gather Mozzarella & Parmesan 8-oz bag (UPC 8523903856), Great Value Pizza Blend 8-oz bag (UPC 538818789), Great Value Italian Style 8-oz, 16-oz bags (multiple UPCs), Great Value Provolone & Mozzarella Blend 16-oz bag (UPC 7874226743), Happy Farms by Aldi Italian-style Cheese 12-oz bag (UPC 4061463330949), Know & Love Italian Style 8-oz bag (UPC 788030645), Laura Lynn Italian Blend 8-oz bag (UPC 8685405157), Laura Lynn Pizza Blend 8-oz bag (UPC 8685402132), Publix Italian Six Cheese Blend 8-oz bag (UPC 4141518065), Simply Go Italian Style Six Cheese Blend 8-oz bag (UPC 1015983015), Simply Go Pizza Blend Two Cheese Mix 32-oz bag (UPC 1015983022).

Consumer Guidance

If you have any of the recalled shredded cheese, do not consume it. Products can be discarded safely or returned to the store for a full refund.

Author’s Analysis: Great Lakes Cheese Recall Highlights Risks in Shredded Cheese Supply

The recent recall by Great Lakes Cheese Co. underscores the ongoing challenges in ensuring the safety of widely distributed food products. Metal fragments detected in multiple brands of shredded mozzarella and cheese blends pose a tangible risk to consumers, making swift action crucial.

The recall covers products with sell-by dates from January to March 2026, sold across 31 states at major retailers including Target, Aldi, Publix, and Walmart. While store shelves currently do not carry affected items, households may still contain these products, requiring immediate consumer attention.

The list of recalled items spans low-moisture part-skim mozzarella and various shredded cheese blends under numerous brand names. This breadth demonstrates the potential for widespread impact and reinforces the importance of thorough inventory checks by both retailers and consumers.

Consumers are advised to either safely discard the recalled cheese or return it to the store for a full refund. The recall highlights not only the need for vigilant quality control within food manufacturing but also the critical role of public awareness in preventing ingestion of contaminated products.

Sources:

• Massive Shredded Cheese Recall Issued After Metal Fragments Found in the Product