Louisiana Stores Affected By Major Shredded Cheese Recall

(KMDL-FM) - Before you top that chili or make a quesadilla, you may want to double-check your shredded cheese. Why? Because there's been a major recall.

Health Risks Linked to Metal Fragments

More than 1.5 million bags of shredded cheese produced by Great Lakes Cheese Co. have been recalled after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned they may contain metal fragments that pose health risks.

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Which Retailers Sold the Recalled Cheese

Great Lakes Cheese manufactures shredded cheese for numerous retailers, meaning the recalled products appear under several private-label brands sold at ALDI, Target, Walmart, Publix, Sprouts, and others.

The affected cheeses were distributed across 31 states, many across the South, including Louisiana.

An initial recall was issued in October, but on December 1st, the FDA escalated it to a Class II recall, noting that consuming the products “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.”

Why the FDA Expanded the Recall

According to an FDA report, metal fragments originating from “supplier raw material” can pose significant risks. Potential injuries include dental damage, cuts to the mouth or throat, and even laceration or perforation of the intestines.

Full List of Affected Shredded Cheese Brands

The recall covers multiple varieties of shredded cheese—Italian-style, pizza blend, mozzarella, mozzarella-provolone, and mozzarella-Parmesan blends—packaged in different cuts and sizes. Products included in the recall are listed below:

Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Shredded Cheese

Always Save Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Borden Shredded and Thick Cut
Brookshire’s Finely Shredded, Shredded, and Thick Cut
Cache Valley Creamery Shredded
Chestnut Hill Fancy Shredded
Coburn Farms Shredded
Econo Shredded
Food Club Finely Shredded and Shredded
Food Lion Shredded
Gold Rush Creamery Shredded
Good and Gather Fine Cut and Classic
Great Lakes Cheese Shredded
Great Value Finely Shredded and Shredded
Happy Farms by ALDI Shredded
H-E-B Shredded, Thick, and Shredded/Fancy Finamente Rallado (sold only in Mexico)
Hill Country Fare Shredded and Shredded/Rallado (sold only in Mexico)
Know & Love Fine Cut, Classic Cut, and Thick Cut
Laura Lynn Finely Shredded, Shredded, and Thick Cut Shredded
Lucerne Dairy Farms Finely Shredded, Shredded, and Rustic Cut
Nu Farm Fancy Shredded
Publix Shredded
Schnuck’s Shredded
Simply Go Classic Cut Shredded and Rustic Cut Shredded
Sprouts Farmers Market Finely Shredded and Shredded
Stater Bros. Markets Finely Shredded and Shredded
Sunnyside Farms Shredded

Italian-Style Cheese Blend

Happy Farms by ALDI Italian Style Shredded Cheese Blend
Brookshire's Italian 6-Cheese Finely Shredded
Cache Valley Creamery Six Cheese Italian Finely Shredded
Coburn Farms Italian Style Finely Shredded
Great Value Italian Style Finely Shredded
Know & Love Italian Style Fine Cut
Laura Lynn Italian Blend Finely Shredded
Publix Italian Six Cheese Blend Fancy Shredded
Simply Go Italian Style Six Cheese Blend Fine Cut Shredded

Pizza-Style Cheese Blend

Food Club Finely Shredded Pizza Style Four Cheese Blend
Econo Pizza Shredded
Food Club Pizza Style Two Cheese Blend Finely Shredded and Shredded
Gold Rush Creamery Pizza Blend Shredded
Great Value Pizza Blend Shredded
Laura Lynn Pizza Blend Finely Shredded
Simply Go Pizza Blend Two Cheese Mix Classic Cut Shredded

Mozzarella Cheese Blends

Freedom's Choice Pizza Blend Fine-Cut
Good & Gather Mozzarella & Provolone Classic
Great Lakes Cheese Mozzarella & Provolone Shredded
Great Value Provolone & Mozzarella Blend Shredded
Good & Gather Mozzarella & Parmesan Shredded Cheese Blend Fine Cut

The FDA website has a complete list of products, package sizes, UPC codes, batch numbers, and sell-by dates.

What Consumers Should Do Next

This voluntary recall is ongoing, and the FDA urges consumers who have any of the affected cheese not to eat it. Throw it away or return it to the store where you bought it for a full refund.