Great Lakes Cheese Co. has issued a recall of more than 260,000 cases of shredded cheese sold across 31 states and Puerto Rico after discovering potential metal fragments in the products. The recall impacts popular brands sold at major retailers, including Walmart’s Great Value, Target’s Good & Gather, Aldi’s Happy Farms, Food Club, and Always Save. Officials say the contamination stems from supplier raw materials, classifying this as a “downstream recall” by the FDA.
The recall covers a wide range of shredded cheese products, including mozzarella, Italian-style blends, and pizza-style cheese blends, with package sizes from 8 ounces to 32 ounces. Consumers should check packaging for batch and sell-by dates, which range from January 2026 through March 2026, depending on the brand and product. The FDA upgraded the recall to Class II on Dec. 1, indicating that while serious harm is unlikely, metal fragments could pose a choking hazard or cause injury to the mouth, throat, or digestive system. Consumers are urged not to consume the recalled products and return them to stores for a refund. Affected states include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, 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.