The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a recall of more than 260,000 cases of shredded cheese distributed across 31 states and Puerto Rico, after discovering the products may be contaminated with metal fragments.
According to the Associated Press, the recall was initiated by Great Lakes Cheese Co., a supplier that produces cheese sold under private store labels at major retailers including Target, Walmart, and Aldi.
The affected cheese products include mozzarella, Italian-style, pizza-style, provolone & mozzarella mix, and mozzarella & parmesan mix. The FDA classified the recall as Class II, meaning the contaminated product could cause “temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.”
Officials warned that consuming the contaminated cheese could result in lacerations to the mouth, throat, or intestines, as well as dental injuries from ingesting small pieces of metal.
Recalled Cheese Distributed Across 31 States and Puerto Rico
The recalled cheese products were distributed to stores across the country, affecting consumers in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, 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, and Wisconsin, as well as Puerto Rico.
The FDA is urging consumers to check their refrigerators for the affected cheese brands and to discard or return them to the store where they were purchased.
Great Lakes Cheese Co. Responds to Recall
Great Lakes Cheese Co., one of the largest private-label cheese producers in the U.S., confirmed the recall and is cooperating fully with the FDA’s ongoing investigation.
The company said in a statement that it is taking proactive measures to remove all affected products from store shelves and has implemented additional quality control checks to prevent future incidents.
No injuries or illnesses have been reported so far, but the FDA continues to monitor the situation closely.
The company encouraged anyone who purchased the affected products to contact Great Lakes Cheese customer service for refund instructions or additional information.