Cheese Recall: Walmart, Sprouts, Metal Contamination

Cheese Recall. So, here’s the deal: Over 1.5 million bags of shredded cheese recall and just vanished from shelves all across America. Why? Potential metal contamination. Yikes.

The cheese recall hits products from Walmart, Target, Aldi, and a bunch of other stores in 31 states and Puerto Rico. Great Lakes Cheese Co., out of Ohio, started this voluntary recall after realizing some of their shredded cheese—mozzarella, Italian blends, pizza cheese—might contain metal fragments.

The Food and Drug Administration calls this a “class II” recall. That means the cheese recall could cause temporary health issues, but it’s not likely to seriously hurt anyone. Still, more than 260,000 cases are involved, with each case holding four to 12 bags.

All the cheese recall in question has sell-by dates from January through late March 2026. If you’ve bought shredded cheese from a big grocery store lately, it’s time to check your fridge.

We’ll get into which brands and sizes are affected, what metal in your cheese actually means for your health, and what you should do if you find this stuff lurking in your kitchen.

Widespread Shredded Cheese Recall: Products, Retailers, and Scope

Great Lakes Cheese Co. pulled the trigger on a voluntary cheese recall that covers over 260,000 cases of shredded cheese. This stuff went out to 31 states plus Puerto Rico. It’s not just one cheese, either—it’s a pile of different varieties sold under private labels at Walmart, Target, Aldi, Sprouts, and more, all because of the metal fragment scare.

Brands and Types of Cheese Included in the Recall

The cheese recall sweeps up more than 1.5 million bags of shredded cheese from Great Lakes Cheese Co. We’re talking low-moisture part-skim mozzarella, Italian blends, pizza cheese, and combos.

Here’s a quick look at what’s on the list for the cheese recall:

• Plain shredded mozzarella
• Mozzarella and parmesan shredded cheese blend
• Mozzarella and provolone combos
• Italian-style cheese blends
• Pizza-style shredded cheese

Don’t look for the Great Lakes Cheese logo, though—these are all private store brands. One that jumps out is Happy Farms by Aldi Italian-style shredded cheese. The recall hits several package sizes and weights, so it’s not just one bag you need to worry about.

Major Retailers Impacted: Walmart, Sprouts, Aldi, Target, and More

Great Lakes Cheese supplies private label cheese to a ton of big-name stores. The list includes Walmart, Target, Aldi, Publix, and Sprouts.

Each store sold the recalled cheese under its own label, so you’ve got to check the brand name on the bag—not the manufacturer. That’s a little annoying, honestly.

Great Lakes Cheese Co. has a huge distribution network, so these tainted products really got around. If you shopped for shredded cheese at any of these stores recently, now’s the time to double-check what you bought.

Distribution Regions and Timeline of the Recall

The cheese went out to 31 states and Puerto Rico. The FDA labeled it a Class II recall, which basically means it could cause short-term or reversible health problems.

Recall by Numbers:

Stores sold the affected cheese in October 2025, and the recall notice dropped in early December. The FDA’s working with stores to yank the cheese and let customers know—sometimes even through those loyalty card emails you usually ignore.

Metal Contamination Risks and FDA Actions

The FDA bumped the recall up to Class II on December 1, 2025, pointing to possible short-term health problems from eating metal fragments. Great Lakes Cheese Company started the recall, which covers more than 1.5 million bags in 31 states and Puerto Rico.

Health Issues Associated With Consuming Contaminated Cheese

Let’s be real: No one expects to find metal in their cheese. If you do, though, you could end up with mouth or throat cuts, or worse, a scratched digestive tract. That sounds like a trip to the ER nobody wants.

The FDA says the risk is mostly temporary or reversible. Still, biting into metal could chip a tooth, and if you swallow a piece, it might cause internal injuries. Kids and older folks are especially at risk here.

Detection and Classification by the Food and Drug Administration

Great Lakes Cheese Company in Hiram, Ohio found the problem during their own quality checks and kicked off the recall on October 3, 2025. The FDA later raised the recall’s risk level after looking at the potential health issues.

Recall Statistics:

The Class II label means these products could cause short-term health issues. Inspectors are keeping an eye on things to make sure stores get rid of all the recalled cheese. The FDA tracks how well the recall’s working through distribution records and store reports.

Recall Process and Consumer Safety Advice

The cheese recall is hitting some big-name stores—think Walmart, Target, and Aldi. If you’ve got cheese in your fridge, now’s the time to check those labels.

Key brands to keep an eye out for:

• Great Value (Walmart)
• Good & Gather (Target)
• Happy Farms (Aldi)
• Food Club
• Borden

Take a second to look for batch codes and sell-by dates that match the official recall list. If you spot a match, just toss the cheese or bring it back for a refund.

Seriously, don’t eat it—even if it looks or smells totally fine. Retailers have yanked the recalled items off shelves and are pinging folks in their loyalty programs.

If you feel sick after eating any recalled cheese, call your doctor right away. Better safe than sorry, right?