More than a million bags of shredded cheese are being recalled in the U.S. due to possible contamination with metal fragments

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning regarding the recall of more than 1.5 million bags of shredded cheese manufactured by Great Lakes Cheese Co. Inc., based in Hiram, Ohio, due to a potential risk of contamination with metal fragments.

According to the FDA notice, the product was distributed to major retailers such as Target, Walmart, Publix, and Aldi, and was withdrawn from stores in 31 states and Puerto Rico. The recall was classified as Class II, which means, according to the agency's official definition, that it involves "a situation in which the use or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, or where the likelihood of serious adverse health consequences is remote."

According to a report from Yahoo Noticias, the manufacturing company initiated a voluntary recall of the product on October 3, 2025, and the FDA updated the risk level on December 1. So far, no injuries have been reported associated with the consumption of the recalled cheeses.

The chain CBS News reported that the recall involves approximately 236,000 boxes of the product, which contain between four and twelve bags each. The expiration dates for the affected cheeses range from January to March 2026.

Among the affected brands are Great Value (Walmart), Good & Gather (Target), Happy Farms (Aldi), Publix, Food Club, Brookshire’s, Borden, Coburn Farms, Lucerne Dairy Farms, Cache Valley Creamery, Simply Go, and H-E-B, among other private brands distributed nationwide.

The agency Associated Press reported that the FDA notice includes several types of shredded cheese, such as mozzarella, Italian blends, pizza blends, and combinations of mozzarella with provolone or parmesan. The statement warns that the ingestion of metal fragments may cause “dental damage, lacerations in the mouth or throat, or intestinal perforations,” although the likelihood of serious consequences is low.

Health authorities recommend that consumers check their refrigerators and freezers and not consume the affected products. If they have purchased them, it is suggested to discard them or return them to the point of sale. The complete list of products and UPC codes included in the recall can be found on the official FDA website.