Aldi Cheese Recall Sparks Consumer Risk Warning in 31 States

By Matthew Robinson

US News Editor

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A recall of cheese products sold by Aldi due potential contamination with metal fragments has been given the second-highest risk warning by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Great Lakes Cheese Co. Inc., based in Ohio, issued a voluntary recall for Happy Farms Shredded Italian Blend Cheese and Happy Farms Mozzarella Shredded Cheese on October 3. The FDA said the issue was caused by potential metal fragments in raw materials delivered by suppliers.

The FDA later issued a Class II risk warning for the recall on December 1.

Newsweek contacted Great Lakes Cheese Co. Inc. for comment by email outside of regular working hours.

Why It Matters

A Class II risk classification, one of three, refers to a situation in which the "use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote," according to the FDA.

Foreign material in food products presents health risks, including choking, damage to teeth and digestive tract injury. Small pieces of metal could obstruct airways, especially in vulnerable populations like children and older adults.

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What To Know

The Aldi products affected by the recall are the following:

Happy Farms Shredded Italian Blend Cheese—1,900 cases—UPC code: 4061463330949—batch and sell-by dates: 0008922982 / 2/22/2026, 0008926344 / 2/23/2026
Happy Farms Mozzarella Shredded Cheese—UPC codes: 4061463330864, 4061463369413—batch and sell-by dates: 1500560016 / 2/8/2026, 1500562694 / 2/14/2026, 0008915062 / 2/18/2026, 0008921597 / 2/21/2026, 0008914480 / 2/13/2026

The FDA reported that the products were distributed in 31 states, namely: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin. They were also distributed to Puerto Rico.

A variety of cheese products produced by Great Lakes Cheese that were sold by other retailers were also recalled due to potential metal contamination. A full list can be found on the FDA website.

As of December 1, no illnesses had been reported by the FDA in connection with the consumption of the recalled cheese.

What People Are Saying

The FDA says in a report on metal contamination: "Ingesting metal fragments can cause injury to the consumer. These injuries may include dental damage, laceration of the mouth or throat, or laceration or perforation of the intestine.

"Metal-to-metal contact (e.g., mechanical cutting or blending operations and can openers) and equipment with metal parts that can break loose (e.g., moving wire mesh belts, injection needles, screens and portion control equipment, and metal ties) are likely sources of metal that may enter food during processing."