FDA reclassifies shredded-cheese recall as Class II; 260k+ cases in 31 states
The FDA on Dec. 1, 2025 reclassified a voluntary Great Lakes Cheese recall of shredded and grated cheeses to Class II after the products were found to possibly contain metal fragments; the recall, initiated in early October, covers more than 260,000 cases—including about 235,789 cases of low‑moisture part‑skim mozzarella—distributed in 31 states and Puerto Rico with sell‑by dates in Feb.–Mar. 2026. Affected brands and retailers include Aldi (Happy Farms), Target (Good & Gather), Walmart (Great Value), Food Lion, Publix, H‑E‑B, Lucerne and others; NPR reported the FDA had not issued a press release on the recall as of its story.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- Great Lakes Cheese voluntarily initiated a nationwide shredded‑cheese recall in early October 2025.
- On Dec. 1, 2025 the FDA reclassified the recall as Class II (upgrading/confirming the risk level from an earlier Class I designation).
- The recall covers more than 260,000 cases of shredded/grated cheese — including 235,789 cases of low‑moisture part‑skim mozzarella — plus specific quantities of Italian‑style blends, pizza‑style blends, mozzarella & provolone mixes, and smaller lots for brands like Happy Farms, Good & Gather and Food Club.
- Products were distributed to 31 states plus Puerto Rico, and affected packages carry sell‑by dates in February–March 2026 (states are enumerated in the FDA listing).
- Affected retailers and brands include (but are not limited to) Aldi (Happy Farms), Target (Good & Gather), Walmart (Great Value), Food Lion, Publix, H‑E‑B, Brookshire’s, Lucerne, Cache Valley Creamery and Food Club; NPR lists dozens of additional store brands and blends.
- The recall was prompted by concerns about possible metal fragments in the products.
- As of NPR’s Dec. 3 publication, the FDA had updated its listing and classification but had not issued a separate press release on the recall.
đź“Š Relevant Data
Ingesting metal fragments in food can cause injuries such as dental damage, lacerations of the mouth or throat, or laceration or perforation of the gastrointestinal tract.
'Ingesting metal fragments can cause injury' states the FDA — New Food Magazine
From January to April 2025, there was a 93% increase in FDA food recalls due to foreign materials compared to the same period in 2024.
In 2019, Hispanics accounted for 21% of non-pregnancy-associated listeriosis cases and 39% of pregnancy-associated cases in the US, compared to comprising about 18% of the population.
Listeria Annual Summary, 2019 — CDC
đź“° Sources (3)
- FDA reclassified the Great Lakes Cheese shredded-cheese recall from Class I to Class II on Dec. 1, 2025.
- Scope detail: over 260,000 cases recalled, including 235,789 cases of low‑moisture part‑skim mozzarella; with additional recalls of 15,490 Italian style blend, 4,298 pizza-style, 4,131 mozzarella & provolone, 1,900 Happy Farms Italian style (Aldi), 1,850 Good & Gather mozzarella & parmesan (Target), and 117 Food Club four-cheese pizza-style.
- Lists affected retailers/brands including Aldi (Happy Farms), Target (Good & Gather), Walmart (Great Value), Food Lion, Publix, H‑E‑B, Brookshire’s, Cache Valley Creamery, Lucerne, and others.
- Geographic scope: products distributed in 31 states plus Puerto Rico; states enumerated in the FDA listing.
- Confirms recall was initiated voluntarily by Great Lakes Cheese in early October and that products have sell-by dates in Feb.–Mar. 2026.
- Great Lakes Cheese initiated the shredded-cheese recall in early October; the FDA upgraded/confirmed the risk classification as Class II this week.
- NPR lists dozens of affected store brands and blends (e.g., Good & Gather, Great Value, Happy Farms by Aldi, Publix, H‑E‑B, Lucerne, Food Lion).
- NPR enumerates distribution to 31 states plus Puerto Rico and notes sell-by dates in February–March 2026.
- NPR reports FDA has not issued a press release on the recall as of publication.