Shredded cheese is one ingredient I always have on hand for easy weeknight dinners. Whether it’s taco Tuesday, MYO pizza night, or just me trying to squeeze in some extra protein into my kid’s school lunch, shredded cheese is my go-to. Which is why I immediately checked my refrigerator drawer after seeing the latest shredded cheese recall.
Great Lakes Cheese Co Inc. first initiated a voluntary shredded cheese recall for potential metal fragment contamination back in October, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration just reclassified the recall as a class 2, on December 1, 2025. A class 2 recall means “A product that may cause temporary or reversible health issues, or a low probability of serious health issues,” according to the FDA’s website.
Here’s what else to know about the shredded cheese recall, including brands affected, where they were sold, and what to do if you have the recalled shredded cheese.
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Which brands are part of the shredded cheese recall?
Great Lakes Cheese Co. Inc. is a cheese manufacturer and packager for many retailers’ private-label shredded cheese that are part of the recall, including, but not limited to, Target’s Good & Gather, Walmart’s Great Value, Publix brand, Aldi’s Happy Farms, and more.
The “best by” dates of affected products span January through March 2026. The majority of recalled shredded cheeses were:
- Low-moisture part-skim Mozarella shredded cheese: By far the largest number of private-label brands were affected by the shredded cheese recall, including Target’s Good & Gather, Walmart’s Great Value, Food Lion, and more.
- Happy Farms by Aldi Italian-style shredded cheese blend: Containing low-moisture part-skim mozzarella, not-smoked provolone, romano, asiago & parmesan finely shredded cheeses.
- Italian-style shredded cheese blend: Shredded cheese containing low-moisture part-skim mozzarella, provolone, parmesan, romano, fontina, and asiago cheese sold under Publix, Brookshire Farms, and more.
- Food Club finely shredded pizza-style four cheese blend: Containing low-moisture part-skim mozzarella, provolone, parmesan, romano, fontina, and asiago cheese.
- Pizza-style shredded cheese blend: Containing low-moisture part-skim mozzarella and mild cheddar cheeses sold under Walmart’s Great Value Pizza Blend, Laura Lynn Pizza Blend, and more.
- Mozzarella and provolone shredded cheese blend: Sold under Freedom’s Choice Pizza Blend, Good & Gather, and more.
- Good & Gather Mozzarella & Parmesan shredded cheese blend sold at Target.
Find the full list of recalled cheeses on the FDA’s report, which includes batch numbers, “best by” dates, and UPC codes. The easiest way to check the list is to use the find function on the list and search for the brand or UPC code.
Which states are affected by the shredded cheese recall?
The shredded cheese recall affects 31 states and Puerto Rico:
- 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
- Wisconsin
Why is the shredded cheese recalled?
According to the FDA report, Great Lakes Cheese cited “Potential metal fragments from supplier raw material (downstream recall).” What does that mean? It means the recall’s impact flows from the manufacturer, then to the business selling the product, and ultimately to the consumer.
What should you do if you have the affected product?
First, check your shredded cheese products against the recall list. If you have the shredded cheese, do not consume it. Many retailers will accept product returns of recalled products.
Kathy Sisson, Senior Editor
Kathy Sisson has been a key contributor in the editorial parenting space for eight years, not only as a full-time editor at The Everymom but previously as a freelance writer for top parenting sites, including Scary Mommy, Motherly, Parent Co., and more. As an editor at The Everymom, she has produced hundreds of articles on a range of parenting topics, reviewed dozens of family-focused products, interviewed leading experts in the children and parenting world, and created viral parenting social media content. A mom of two, she is committed to sharing the honest, helpful, and often humorous stories of motherhood.
Products in feature graphics credited to Target, Walmart, Publix, and Target
