The Food and Drug Administration issued an active recall for more than 1.5 million bags of shredded cheese after tests found potential metal fragments or Listeria contamination. On December 1 the FDA upgraded the recall to a Class II, meaning use or exposure may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, or where serious consequences are unlikely.
The recalled products 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. Great Lakes Cheese had earlier issued a related recall in early October covering several shredded cheeses due to possible metal fragments.
Ambriola’s CEO Phil Marfuggi said the company alerted stores and distributors immediately and is working with the FDA while continuing product and facility testing.
No illnesses or deaths have been reported to date. 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.
Michelle Routhenstein, a cardiology dietitian and registered nutritionist, noted that ingesting metal particles can cause immediate physical injury: larger or sharp fragments may chip teeth, damage dental work, or cut the mouth, throat, esophagus, or gastrointestinal tract, possibly causing pain, bleeding, infection, or perforation.
Some of the recalled cheeses may also be contaminated with Listeria. Listeria infections are often mild but can become invasive, spreading beyond the gut. Invasive infection may cause fever, flu-like symptoms, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures. People who are pregnant, over age 65, or have weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe illness. Seek medical attention if you ate a recalled product and have fever or other symptoms; tell your healthcare provider about the possible exposure.
If you have shredded cheese matching the recall, do not eat it. Dispose of it safely or return it to the retailer for a possible refund.
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
These products were sold in the following states and regions:
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, and Wisconsin.
What to do
– Check packaging and stop using any products that match the recalled list.
– Dispose of recalled product or return it to the place of purchase for a possible refund.
– Seek medical care if you ate a recalled item and develop fever or other symptoms of Listeria infection, especially if you are pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised. Tell the clinician about the possible exposure.
The FDA continues to investigate and monitor the situation.
