The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has assigned a risk classification to a previous voluntary recall of various shredded cheese products sold at ALDI, Target, Walmart and other national retailers due to potential metal contamination.
Below, find out what to know about the recall, as well as what steps to take if you have any impacted product in your fridge.
What to know about shredded cheese recall
Great Lakes Cheese Co Inc. first initiated the voluntary recall with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration back on Oct. 3. The company said some products may potentially contain metal fragments from “supplier raw material,” according to an FDA report.
On Monday, Dec. 1, the FDA assigned the recall a Class II designation, which means that “use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences,” according to the agency.
ABC News has reached out to Great Lakes Cheese Co Inc. for comment on the recall.
STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images – PHOTO: shredded mozzarella cheese in a bowl
Where were recalled shredded cheese products sold?
Great Lakes Cheese sells its products under dozens of private label store brands at ALDI, Target, Walmart, Publix, Sprouts and other retailers.
The affected products were distributed across 31 states and Puerto Rico. Impacted states include Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
What products are part of the shredded cheese recall?
There are a variety of blends, cuts and different size products affected, including shredded Italian-style, pizza-style, mozzarella, mozzarella and provolone, and mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
Click here for a full list of products with additional package sizes, UPC codes, “best by” dates and other pertinent information from the FDA.
Low-moisture part-skim mozzarella shredded cheese
Always Save
Shredded, 5 lb., UPC 7003865782, 4/case
Borden
Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 5300007162, 6 or 12/case
Thick Cut, 8 oz., UPC 5300007170, 6/case
Brookshire’s
Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 9282510119, 12/case
Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 9282510120, 12/case
Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 9282510130, 6/case
Thick Cut, 8 oz., UPC 9282592197, 12/case
Cache Valley Creamery
Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7495802553, 6 or 12/case
Chestnut Hill
Fancy Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 3225116742, 6/case
Coburn Farms
Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 5193331657, 12/case
Shredded, 12 oz., UPC 5193321820, 18/case
Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 5193334257, 6/case
Econo
Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 893800294, 12/case
Food Club
Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 3680045573, 12/case
Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 3680005117, 12/case
Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 3680005144, 12/case
Shredded, 32 oz., tube-style bag, UPC 3680012914, 6/case (case UPC 3680041215)
Shredded, 32 oz., square-style bag, UPC 3680038305, 6/case
Food Lion
Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 3582609008, 12/case
Gold Rush Creamery
Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 1401401014, 12/case
Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 1401401030, 6/case
Good & Gather
Fine Cut, 8 oz., UPC 8523903860, 12/case
Classic, 8 oz., UPC 8523903849, 12/case
Classic, 32 oz., UPC 8523903852, 6/case
Great Lakes Cheese
Shredded, 5 lb., UPC 3651415034, 4/case
Great Value
Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7874237425, 6/case
Finely Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 7874204492, 5/case
Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7874235317, 6/case
Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 7874235321, 5/case
Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 7874237475, 6/case
Shredded, 5 lb., UPC 7874204980, 4/case
Happy Farms by Aldi
Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 4061463330864, 12/case
Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 4061463369413, 8/case
H-E-B
Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 4122022272, 12/case
Thick, 8 oz., UPC 4122061295, 12/case
Shredded/Fancy Finamente Rallado, 8 oz., UPC 4122006759, 12/case (Mexico only)
Hill Country Fare
Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 4122018977, 12/case
Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 4122016234, 12/case
Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 4122042334, 6/case
Shredded, 5 lb., UPC 4122082998, 4/case
Shredded/Rallado, 8 oz., UPC 4122024512, 12/case (Mexico only)
Know & Love
Fine Cut, 8 oz., UPC 788030650, 12/case
Fine Cut, 16 oz., UPC 788030657, 12/case
Classic Cut, 8 oz., UPC 788030659, 12/case
Classic Cut, 32 oz., UPC 788030658, 6/case
Thick Cut, 8 oz., UPC 788030678, 12/case
Laura Lynn
Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 8685401031, 12/case
Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 8685400824, 12/case
Shredded, 12 oz., UPC 8685400815, 12/case
Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 8685406528, 12/case
Thick Cut Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 8685407109, 12/case
Lucerne Dairy Farms
Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 2113004867, 12/case
Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 2113004259, 12/case
Shredded Family Size, 32 oz., UPC 2113004741, 6/case
Rustic Cut, 8 oz., UPC 2113004944, 12/case
Rustic Cut Family Size, 32 oz., UPC 2113004949, 6/case
Nu Farm
Fancy Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 3104100151, 12/case
Publix
Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 4141511665, 12/case
Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 4141523365, 12/case
Schnuck’s
Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 4131858010, 12/case
Simply Go
Classic Cut Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 1015983021, 12/case
Classic Cut Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 1015983020, 6/case
Rustic Cut Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 1015983040, 12/case
Sprouts Farmers Market
Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 4667052284, 12/case
Shredded Value Pack, 32 oz., UPC 4667052279, 6/case
Stater Bros. Markets
Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7417546413, 12/case
Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7417546402, 12/case
Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 7417546435, 6/case
Sunnyside Farms
Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 1754450204, 5/case
Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 1754450057, 12/case
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Shredded Italian-style cheese blend
Brookshire’s Italian 6-Cheese
Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 9282510174, 12/case
Cache Valley Creamery Six Cheese Italian
Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7495800257, 12/case
Coburn Farms Italian Style
Finely Shredded, 12 oz., UPC 5193365638, 18/case
Great Value Italian Style
Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7874201566, 6/case
Finely Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 7874203979, 5/case
Know & Love Italian Style
Fine Cut, 8 oz., UPC 788030645, 12/case
Laura Lynn Italian Blend
Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 8685405157, 12/case
Publix Italian Six Cheese Blend
Fancy Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 4141518065, 12/case
Simply Go Italian Style Six Cheese Blend
Fine Cut Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 1015983015, 12/case
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Shredded Pizza-style cheese blend
Food Club Finely Shredded Pizza Style Four Cheese Blend
Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 3680017231, 12/case
Econo Pizza
Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 893800297, 12/case
Food Club Pizza Style Two Cheese Blend
Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 3680012422, 12/case
Shredded, 32 oz., square-style bag, UPC 3680044487, 6/case
Shredded, 32 oz., tube-style bag, UPC 3680048197, 6/case
Gold Rush Creamery Pizza Blend
Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 1401401030, 6/case
Great Value Pizza Blend
Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 538818789, 6/case
Laura Lynn Pizza Blend
Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 8685402132, 12/case
Simply Go Pizza Blend Two Cheese Mix
Classic Cut Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 1015983022, 6/case
Mozzarella and provolone shredded cheese blend
Freedom’s Choice Pizza Blend
Fine-Cut, 32 oz., UPC 4279810410, 6/case
Good & Gather Mozzarella & Provolone
Classic, 8 oz., UPC 8523903871, 12/case
Great Lakes Cheese Mozzarella & Provolone
Shredded, 5 lb., UPC 3651415115, 4/case
Great Value Provolone & Mozzarella Blend
Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 7874226743, 5/case
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Other shredded cheese products
Good & Gather Mozzarella & Parmesan Blend
Fine Cut, 8 oz., UPC 8523903856, 12/case
Happy Farms (Aldi) Italian Style Blend
Finely Shredded, 12 oz., UPC 4061463330949, 6/combo case (paired with Taco Style product) (Contains low-moisture part-skim mozzarella, not-smoked provolone, romano, asiago & Parmesan)
What to do if you purchased recalled shredded cheese products
On its website, the FDA urges consumers to check their homes for any recalled food items and to avoid giving the product to others, “such as a food bank or a pet.”
“Often, recalled products may be returned to the store where they were purchased for a full refund,” the agency states. “If not, dispose of the product properly — if it’s contaminated, wrap it securely before putting it in the trash.”
The FDA also states that consumers should thoroughly clean and sanitize any surfaces that may have come into contact with contaminated food and to contact their health care provider to report any symptoms if they believe they may have consumed recalled food.
