The Food and Drug Administration has issued an active recall for more than 1.5 million bags of shredded cheese after testing identified possible metal fragments and potential Listeria contamination. On December 1 the FDA upgraded the notice to a Class II recall, indicating that exposure could cause temporary or medically reversible health effects and that serious consequences are unlikely.
Products and distribution
– The recalled cheeses were distributed to national retailers and distributors between November 3 and November 20 and were sold at stores including Walmart, Aldi, Publix, Target and others. An earlier related recall from Great Lakes Cheese in early October also covered several shredded cheeses because of possible metal fragments.
– Ambriola Foods reported it notified stores and distributors immediately, is cooperating with the FDA and continuing product and facility testing.
No illnesses or deaths have been reported so far. The FDA warns that metal fragments in food can cause injury such as chipped teeth, cuts to the mouth or throat, or lacerations or perforation of the intestine.
Health risks and symptoms
– Physical injury from metal particles may include chipped teeth, damage to dental work, cuts to the mouth, throat or gastrointestinal tract, pain, bleeding, infection, or perforation.
– Some recalled packages may also be contaminated with Listeria. Listeria infection is often mild but can become invasive and spread beyond the gut. Symptoms of invasive infection can include fever, flu-like symptoms, headache, stiff neck, confusion, balance problems, or seizures. Pregnant people, adults over 65, and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe illness.
– If you ate any recalled product and develop fever or other concerning symptoms, seek medical attention and tell your healthcare provider about the possible exposure.
What to do
– Do not eat shredded cheese that matches the recalled brands or descriptions.
– Dispose of recalled product safely or return it to the place of purchase for a possible refund.
– Seek medical care if you develop fever or other signs of Listeria infection, especially if you are pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised.
Affected products (64 total)
Always Save Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Borden Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Borden Thick Cut Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Brookshire’s Finely Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Brookshire’s Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Brookshire’s Thick Cut Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Brookshire’s Italian Six-Cheese Finely Shredded
Cache Valley Creamery Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Cache Valley Creamery Six-Cheese Italian Finely Shredded
Chestnut Hill Fancy Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Coburn Farms Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Coburn Farms Italian-Style Finely Shredded
Econo Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Econo Pizza Shredded
Food Club Finely Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Food Club Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Food Club Finely Shredded Pizza Style Four Cheese Blend
Food Club Pizza Style Two Cheese Blend Finely Shredded
Food Club Pizza Style Two Cheese Blend Shredded
Food Lion Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Freedom’s Choice Pizza Blend Fine-Cut
Gold Rush Creamery Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Gold Rush Creamery Pizza Blend Shredded
Good & Gather Fine Cut Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Good & Gather Classic Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Good & Gather Mozzarella & Provolone Classic
Good & Gather Mozzarella & Parmesan Shredded Cheese Blend
Great Lakes Cheese Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Great Lakes Cheese Finely Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Great Lakes Cheese Mozzarella & Provolone Shredded
Great Value Italian Style Finely Shredded
Great Value Pizza Blend Shredded
Great Value Provolone & Mozzarella Blend Shredded
Happy Farms by Aldi Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Happy Farms by Aldi Italian-Style Shredded Cheese
H-E-B Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
H-E-B Thick Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
H-E-B Shredded/Fancy Finamente Rallado Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Hill Country Fare Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Know & Love Fine Cut Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Know & Love Classic Cut Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Know & Love Thick Cut Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Know & Love Italian Style Fine Cut
Laura Lynn Finely Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Laura Lynn Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Laura Lynn Thick Cut Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Laura Lynn Italian Blend Finely Shredded
Laura Lynn Pizza Blend Finely Shredded
Lucerne Dairy Farms Finely Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Lucerne Dairy Farms Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Lucerne Dairy Farms Rustic Cut Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Nu Farm Fancy Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Publix Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Publix Italian Six Cheese Blend Fancy Shredded
Schuck’s Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Simply Go Classic Cut Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Simply Go Rustic Cut Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Simply Go Italian Style Six Cheese Blend Fine Cut Shredded
Simply Go Pizza Blend Two Cheese Mix Classic Cut Shredded
Sprouts Farmers Market Finely Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Sprouts Farmers Market Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Stater Bros. Markets Finely Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Stater Bros. Markets Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Sunnyside Farms Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Regions where these products were sold
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin.
The FDA continues to investigate and monitor the situation. If you are unsure whether a package you have is part of the recall, check retailer announcements or the FDA recall notice for details before using the product.
