FDA recalls 1.5 million bags of shredded cheese, including those sold at Target, Walmart, Aldi
The FDA on Monday issued a recall for 1.5 million pounds of cheese sold across the U.S. and in Puerto Rico. Credit: Universal Images Group via Getty Images/Jeff Greenberg
A massive cheese recall affecting brands such as Borden's sold by major retailers, including Aldi, Target and Walmart, in the United States and Puerto Rico is underway, the Food and Drug Administration has announced.
The recall affects more than 1.5 million packages of shredded cheese the FDA said could be contaminated with metal shavings and fragments.
The Hiram, Ohio-based Great Lakes Cheese Co. Inc. issued a voluntary recall of the products on Oct. 3, citing the potential risks.
On Monday, the FDA reclassified the risk to a so-called Class 2 contamination, which refers to contamination "likely" to cause serious health issues. According to the FDA, a Class 2 risk signifies consuming the contaminated product could cause "temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences."
The cheese products recalled are wide-ranging, including shredded mozzarella, shredded Italian-style cheese, shredded pizza-style cheese, a mozzarella and provolone shredded cheese blend and a mozzarella and Parmesan blend.
The initial voluntary recall notice issued Oct. 3 by Great Lakes notes: "Potential metal fragments from supplier raw material."
The FDA said consumers should either discard the products or return them to place of purchase for a refund.
No specific sell-by dates or packaging sizes were immediately available.
Among the brands affected are Borden's, Brookshire's, Cache Valley Creamery, Chestnut Hill, Coburn Farms, Food Club, Gold Rush Creamery, Good & Gather, Great Lakes, Happy Farms by Aldi, H-E-B, Hill Country, Know & Love, Laura Lynn Lucerne Dairy and Sunnyside Farms.
A full list of products, including their UPC and best-by date information, can be found on the FDA website at fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts.
It was not immediately clear on Wednesday which of the recalled products were sold at stores on Long Island or, in the metropolitan area. But, according to the FDA, at least 64 different varieties of cheese are affected.
John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.
Funeral for slain CVS worker ... Nurse strike looming ... Town hikes summer fees ... Activist network eyes ICE
Funeral for slain CVS worker ... Nurse strike looming ... Town hikes summer fees ... Activist network eyes ICE
