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, including Florida, 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.”
For Jacksonville residents, here’s what you need to know: local retailers that commonly carry the affected brands have already pulled the impacted items, but consumers are encouraged to double-check any shredded cheese purchased earlier this fall. Below, you’ll find the serial numbers linked to the recalled products so you can ensure any cheese stored at home is safe to eat.
Which cheese products and what brands were recalled?
The FDA report lists low-moisture part-skim mozzarella shredded cheese, individually packaged in plastic bags, under the following names:
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:
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:
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:
Mozzarella & Parmesan shredded cheese blend, individually packaged in a plastic bag, sold under the following names:
What states were the recalled cheeses sold at? Any in Florida?
Yes, according to the FDA, the cheese was distributed in Florida along with the following U.S. states and Puerto Rico:
What 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.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: See list of shredded cheese items recalled at Walmart, Target and Aldi
Reporting by Doris Alvarez Cea and Mary Walrath-Holdridge, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
