Something you bought was just recalled. What does that mean?
What happens when something you purchase is recalled? Is it voluntary or mandatory? And what does it mean for you?
More than one million bags of cheese sold at popular stores like Walmart, Target and Aldi have been recalled for possibly containing metal pieces, according to a recently updated Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report.
Ohio-based Great Lakes Cheese Co. initiated the ongoing recall on Oct. 3, stating the affected cheese may be contaminated with metal fragments, which could cause injury if consumed.
The FDA reclassified the recall to a “Class II” on Dec. 1, according to an enforcement report, meaning the food “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.”
The recalled cheese products were different mixes sold in 31 states under an array of brand names, including store brands such as Good & Gather, Great Value, Publix, Sprouts and Happy Farms.
“All recalled products have been removed from markets and replaced with new products. Further, the products currently on retail shelves are safe to consume and not associated with the October recall,” Great Lakes Cheese said in a statement on Dec. 3. “While the status of the recall is marked as ongoing in the enforcement report, our records show all product has been fully removed from store shelves.”
Here’s what to know about the recall.
Which cheese products were recalled?
The FDA report lists low-moisture part-skim mozzarella shredded cheese, individually packaged in plastic bags, under the following names:
Always Save – Shredded, 5 lb., UPC 7003865782Borden – Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 5300007162, 6 or 12/caseThick Cut, 8 oz., UPC 5300007170, 6/caseBrookshire’s – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 9282510119Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 9282510120, 12/caseShredded, 32 oz., UPC 9282510130, 6/caseThick Cut, 8 oz., UPC 9282592197, 12/caseCache Valley Creamery – Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7495802553Chestnut Hill – Fancy Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 3225116742Coburn Farms – Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 5193331657Shredded, 12 oz., UPC 5193321820Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 5193334257Econo – Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 893800294Food Club – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 3680045573, 12/caseShredded, 8 oz., UPC 3680005117Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 3680005144Shredded, 32 oz., tube-style bag, UPC 3680012914, 3680041215Shredded, 32 oz., square-style bag, UPC 3680038305Food Lion – Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 3582609008Gold Rush Creamery – Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 1401401014Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 1401401030Good & Gather – Fine Cut, 8 oz., UPC 8523903860Classic, 8 oz., UPC 8523903849Classic, 32 oz., UPC 8523903852Great Lakes Cheese – Shredded, 5 lb., UPC 3651415034Great Value – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7874237425Finely Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 7874204492Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7874235317Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 7874235321Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 7874237475Shredded, 5 lb., UPC 7874204980Happy Farms by Aldi – Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 4061463330864Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 4061463369413, 8/caseH-E-B – Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 4122022272Thick, 8 oz., UPC 4122061295, 12/caseShredded/Fancy Finamente Rallado, 8 oz., UPC 4122006759 (Mexico only)Hill Country Fare – Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 4122018977Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 4122016234Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 4122042334Shredded, 5 lb., UPC 4122082998Shredded/Rallado, 8 oz., UPC 4122024512 (Mexico only)Know & Love – Fine Cut, 8 oz., UPC 788030650Fine Cut, 16 oz., UPC 788030657, 12/caseClassic Cut, 8 oz., UPC 788030659, 12/caseClassic Cut, 32 oz., UPC 788030658, 6/caseThick Cut, 8 oz., UPC 788030678, 12/caseLaura Lynn – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 8685401031Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 8685400824Shredded, 12 oz., UPC 8685400815Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 8685406528Thick Cut Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 8685407109Lucerne Dairy Farms – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 2113004867Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 2113004259Shredded Family Size, 32 oz., UPC 2113004741Rustic Cut, 8 oz., UPC 2113004944Rustic Cut Family Size, 32 oz., UPC 2113004949Nu Farm – Fancy Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 3104100151Publix – Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 4141511665Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 4141523365Schnuck’s – Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 4131858010Simply Go – Classic Cut Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 1015983021Classic Cut Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 1015983020Rustic Cut Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 1015983040Sprouts Farmers Market – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 4667052284Shredded Value Pack, 32 oz., UPC 4667052279Stater Bros. Markets – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7417546413Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7417546402Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 7417546435Sunnyside Farms – Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 1754450204Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 1754450057
Italian-style shredded cheese blend (low-moisture part-skim mozzarella, provolone, parmesan, romano, fontina, and asiago cheese), individually packaged in a plastic bag under the following names:
Happy Farms by Aldi Italian Style shredded cheese blend (low-moisture part-skim mozzarella, not-smoked provolone, romano, asiago & parmesan finely shredded cheeses)12 oz., individually packaged in a plastic bag, UPC 4061463330949Brookshire’s Italian 6-Cheese – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 9282510174Cache Valley Creamery Six Cheese Italian – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7495800257Coburn Farms Italian Style – Finely Shredded, 12 oz., UPC 5193365638Great Value Italian Style – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7874201566Finely Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 7874203979Know & Love Italian Style – Fine Cut, 8 oz., UPC 788030645Laura Lynn Italian Blend – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 8685405157Publix Italian Six Cheese Blend – Fancy Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 4141518065Simply Go Italian Style Six Cheese Blend – Fine Cut Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 1015983015
Pizza-style shredded cheese blend (containing low-moisture part-skim mozzarella and mild cheddar cheeses), individually packaged in a plastic bag, sold under the following names:
Food Club Finely Shredded Pizza Style Four Cheese Blend (low-moisture part-skim mozzarella, not-smoked provolone, parmesan & romano cheeses)8 oz., packaged individually in a plastic bag, UPC 3680017231Econo Pizza – Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 893800297Food Club Pizza Style Two Cheese Blend – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 3680012422Shredded, 32 oz., square-style bag, UPC 3680044487Shredded, 32 oz., tube-style bag, UPC 3680048197Gold Rush Creamery Pizza Blend – Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 1401401030Great Value Pizza Blend – Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 538818789Laura Lynn Pizza Blend – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 8685402132Simply Go Pizza Blend Two Cheese Mix – Classic Cut Shredded, 32 oz., UPC 1015983022
Mozzarella and provolone shredded cheese blend (containing low-moisture part-skim mozzarella and not-smoked provolone cheeses), individually packaged in a plastic bag, sold under the following names:
Freedom’s Choice Pizza Blend – Fine-Cut, 32 oz., UPC 4279810410Good & Gather Mozzarella & Provolone – Classic, 8 oz., UPC 8523903871Great Lakes Cheese Mozzarella & Provolone – Shredded, 5 lb., UPC 3651415115Great Value Provolone & Mozzarella Blend – Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 7874226743
Mozzarella & Parmesan shredded cheese blend, individually packaged in a plastic bag, sold under the following names:
Good & Gather Mozzarella & Parmesan shredded cheese blend – Fine Cut, 8 oz., UPC 8523903856Where were the recalled cheeses sold?
According to the FDA, the cheese was distributed in the following U.S. states and Puerto Rico:
AlabamaArkansasArizonaCaliforniaColoradoFloridaGeorgiaIdahoIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMinnesotaMissouriMississippiNorth CarolinaNebraskaNew MexicoNevadaNew YorkOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaSouth CarolinaTennesseeTexasUtahVirginiaWashingtonWisconsinWhat to do with recalled cheeses?
Any households with any of the affected items from October in their refrigerators or freezers should discard the product or return it to the store where it was purchased for a refund, Great Lake Cheese said.
Dining and Cooking