Why are food recalls increasing?
E. coli, metals and even dead bats have been found in the recalled foods. In fact, food recalls are on the rise. But it could actually be a good sign. Here’s why:
america today
More than 1 million bags of cheese sold at popular stores like Walmart, Target and Aldi have been recalled because they may contain metal fragments, according to a recently updated Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report.
Ohio-based Great Lakes Cheese Co. initiated the ongoing recall on Oct. 3, saying the affected cheeses may be contaminated with metal debris that could cause injury if ingested.
On Dec. 1, the FDA reclassified the recall to “Class 1,” meaning the food “may cause a temporary or medically reversible health hazard,” according to an enforcement report.
The recalled cheese products were a mix that was sold in 31 states under a variety of brand names, including store brands such as Good & Gather, Great Value, Publix, Sprouts and Happy Farms.
“All recalled products have been removed from the market and replaced with new products. Additionally, the products currently on retail shelves are safe to consume and are not related to the October recall,” Great Lakes Cheese Co. said in a Dec. 3 statement. “Although the enforcement report marks the recall status as ongoing, our records indicate that all products have been permanently removed from store shelves.”
Here’s what you need to know about the recall.
Which cheese products have been recalled?
The FDA report lists low moisture partially skimmed mozzarella shredded cheese individually packaged in plastic bags with the following names:
- always save – Shredded, 5 lbs., UPC 7003865782
- Borden – Shredded, 8 oz, UPC 5300007162, 6 or 12 pieces/case
- Thick cut, 8 oz, UPC 5300007170, 6 pieces/case
- Brookshire’s – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 9282510119
- Shredded, 8 oz, UPC 9282510120, 12 pieces/case
- Shredded, 32 oz, UPC 9282510130, 6 pieces/case
- Thick cut, 8 oz, UPC 9282592197, 12 pieces/case
- cache valley creamery – Shredded, 8 oz, UPC 7495802553
- Chestnut Hill – Fancy Shred, 8 oz, UPC 3225116742
- Cobain Farms – Shredded, 8 oz, UPC 5193331657
- Shredded, 12 oz, UPC 5193321820
- Shredded, 32 oz, UPC 5193334257
- econo – Shredded, 8 oz, UPC 893800294
- food club – Finely Shredded, 8 oz, UPC 3680045573, 12 pieces/case
- Shredded, 8 oz, UPC 3680005117
- Shredded, 16 oz, UPC 3680005144
- Shredded, 32 oz, tube bag, UPC 3680012914, 3680041215
- Shredded, 32 oz, square style bag, UPC 3680038305
- food lion – Shredded, 8 oz, UPC 3582609008
- gold rush creamery – Shredded, 8 oz, UPC 1401401014
- Shredded, 32 oz, UPC 1401401030
- Good & Gathering – Fine Cut, 8 oz, UPC 8523903860
- Classic, 8 oz, UPC 8523903849
- Classic, 32 oz, UPC 8523903852
- great lakes cheese – Shredded, 5 lbs., UPC 3651415034
- great value – Finely Shredded, 8 oz, UPC 7874237425
- Finely Shredded, 16 oz, UPC 7874204492
- Shredded, 8 oz, UPC 7874235317
- Shredded, 16 oz, UPC 7874235321
- Shredded, 32 oz, UPC 7874237475
- Shredded, 5 lbs., UPC 7874204980
- Happy Farms by Aldi – Shredded, 16 oz, UPC 4061463330864
- Shredded, 32 oz, UPC 4061463369413, 8 pieces/case
- H.E.B. – Shredded, 8 oz, UPC 4122022272
- Thick, 8 oz, UPC 4122061295, 12 pieces/case
- Shredded/Fancy Finamente Larado, 8 oz, UPC 4122006759 (Mexico only)
- hill country fare – Shredded, 8 oz, UPC 4122018977
- Shredded, 16 oz, UPC 4122016234
- Shredded, 32 oz, UPC 4122042334
- Shredded, 5 lbs., UPC 4122082998
- Shredded/Lalade, 8 oz, UPC 4122024512 (Mexico only)
- knowing and loving – Fine Cut, 8 oz, UPC 788030650
- Fine cut, 16 oz, UPC 788030657, 12 pieces/case
- Classic cut, 8 oz, UPC 788030659, 12 pieces/case
- Classic cut, 32 oz, UPC 788030658, 6 pieces/case
- Thick cut, 8 oz, UPC 788030678, 12 pieces/case
- Laura Lynn – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 8685401031
- Shredded, 8 oz, UPC 8685400824
- Shredded, 12 oz, UPC 8685400815
- Shredded, 16 oz, UPC 8685406528
- Thick Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 8685407109
- lucerne dairy farm – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 2113004867
- Shredded, 8 oz, UPC 2113004259
- Shredded Family Size, 32 oz, UPC 2113004741
- Rustic Cut, 8 oz, UPC 2113004944
- Rustic Cut Family Size, 32 oz, UPC 2113004949
- Now Farm – Fancy Shred, 8 oz, UPC 3104100151
- Publix – Shredded, 8 oz, UPC 4141511665
- Shredded, 16 oz, UPC 4141523365
- Mr. Schnuck – Shredded, 8 oz, UPC 4131858010
- Simply Go – Classic Cut Shred, 8 oz, UPC 1015983021
- Classic Cut Shred, 32 oz, UPC 1015983020
- Rustic Cut Shreds, 8 oz., UPC 1015983040
- Sprouts Farmers Market – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 4667052284
- Shredded Value Pack, 32 oz, UPC 4667052279
- Stater Brothers Market – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7417546413
- Shredded, 8 oz, UPC 7417546402
- Shredded, 32 oz, UPC 7417546435
- Sunnyside Farms – Shredded, 16 oz, UPC 1754450204
- Shredded, 32 oz, UPC 1754450057
Italian-style shredded cheese blend (low moisture part-skim mozzarella, provolone, parmesan, romano, fontina, asiago). They are individually packaged in plastic bags with the names below.
- Happy Farms by Aldi Italian Style Shredded Cheese Blend (low-moisture part-skim mozzarella, unsmoked provolone, shredded Romano, Asiago, and Parmesan cheeses)
- 12 oz., individually wrapped in plastic bags, UPC 4061463330949
- Brookshire’s 6 Italian Cheeses – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 9282510174
- Cache Valley Creamery Six Cheese Italian – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7495800257
- Cobain Farms Italian Style – Finely Shredded, 12 oz, UPC 5193365638
- great value italian style – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 7874201566
- Finely Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 7874203979
- Know and love Italian style – Fine Cut, 8 oz, UPC 788030645
- Laura Lynn Italian Blend – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 8685405157
- Publix Italian 6 Cheese Blend – Fancy Shred, 8 oz, UPC 4141518065
- Simply Go Italian Style 6 Cheese Blend – Shredded Fine Cut, 8 oz., UPC 1015983015
Pizza-style shredded cheese blends (containing low-moisture part-skim mozzarella and mild cheddar cheese) are individually wrapped in plastic bags and sold under the names below.
- Food Club Shredded Pizza Style 4 Cheese Blend (partially skim mozzarella with low moisture content, unsmoked provolone, Parmesan cheese, Romano cheese)
- 8 oz., individually packaged in plastic bags, UPC 3680017231
- econo pizza – Shredded, 8 oz, UPC 893800297
- Food Club Pizza Style 2 Cheese Blend – Finely Shredded, 8 oz, UPC 3680012422
- Shredded, 32 oz, square style bag, UPC 3680044487
- Shredded, 32 oz., tube bag, UPC 3680048197
- gold rush creamery pizza blend – Shredded, 32 oz, UPC 1401401030
- great pizza blend – Shredded, 8 oz, UPC 538818789
- laura lynn pizza blend – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., UPC 8685402132
- Simply Go Pizza Blend Two Cheese Mix – Classic Cut Shredded, 32 oz, UPC 1015983022
Shredded Mozzarella and Provolone Cheese Blend (contains low moisture part-skim mozzarella and unsmoked provolone cheese) is individually packaged in plastic bags and sold under the following names:
- Freedom’s Choice Pizza Blend – Fine Cut, 32 oz, UPC 4279810410
- Good & Gather Mozzarella & Provolone – Classic, 8 oz, UPC 8523903871
- Great Lakes Cheese Mozzarella & Provolone – Shredded, 5 lbs., UPC 3651415115
- Great value provolone & mozzarella blend – Shredded, 16 oz, UPC 7874226743
Mozzarella & Parmesan Shredded Cheese Blend, individually wrapped in plastic bags, sold under the following names:
- Good & Gather Mozzarella & Parmesan Shredded Cheese Blend – Fine Cut, 8 oz, UPC 8523903856
Where was the recalled cheese sold?
According to the FDA, the cheese was distributed in the following U.S. states and Puerto Rico:
- 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
What to do with recalled cheese?
Great Lake Cheese Co. said that starting in October, households with affected products stored in their refrigerators or freezers should either throw them away or return them to the store where they were purchased for a refund.
