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Urgent Alert: 5 Critical Facts About The Massive Aldi Cheese Recall Due To Metal Contamination

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Stop! If you recently purchased shredded cheese from Aldi, your immediate attention is required. As of today, December 20, 2025, a significant and widespread food safety alert remains active following a massive recall involving Aldi’s popular store-brand cheese. This isn't a minor issue; the recall is classified as a Class II risk by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to the potential presence of foreign matter, specifically metal fragments.

The affected products—sold under the Happy Farms by Aldi label—were manufactured by a major supplier, Great Lakes Cheese Co. Inc., and distributed across more than 30 states. The sheer volume of the recall, which involves over 1.5 million bags of various shredded cheese products, makes it one of the largest food safety events of its kind this year. Consumers are strongly advised to check their refrigerators and freezers immediately against the specific product identifiers listed below.

The Full List of Recalled Aldi Products and Critical Identifiers

The core of this recall stems from a contamination issue traced back to a raw material supplier of low-moisture part-skim mozzarella. The contamination involves stainless steel fragments, which pose a significant ingestion hazard. The recall was initiated by the manufacturer, Great Lakes Cheese Co. Inc., on October 3, 2025, with specific product alerts being issued throughout the year, including a major one on February 15, 2025, and a Class II notification from the FDA in March 2025.

The following Aldi-specific products and their identifying codes are confirmed to be part of the recall. Check these labels carefully:

Affected Product: Happy Farms by Aldi Finely Shredded Colby Jack Cheese

  • Product Size: 12 oz pouch
  • Contaminant: Potential stainless steel fragments
  • Key Identifiers to Check:
    • Batch Number: 8679653
    • Item Number: 170374
    • UPC (Universal Product Code): 4061463330840
  • Scope: This specific product was distributed in at least four states.

Affected Product: Happy Farms by Aldi Italian Style Shredded Cheese Blend

  • Product Size: Various (Check all sizes)
  • Contaminant: Potential stainless steel fragments
  • Key Identifiers to Check:
    • Specific Sell-By Dates: February 22, 2026, and February 23, 2026
  • Scope: Part of the larger Great Lakes Cheese recall affecting 31 states and Puerto Rico.

Note on Other Products: While the Colby Jack and Italian Style blends are the primary Aldi-branded products named, the underlying contamination affects a supplier’s low-moisture part-skim mozzarella. If you purchased any other shredded cheese at Aldi during this period, especially other Happy Farms shredded varieties like Mozzarella, it is prudent to check the packaging and return it out of an abundance of caution. The recall covers more than two dozen brands sold nationwide.

Immediate Consumer Action: What to Do With Recalled Cheese

The FDA has rated this as a Class II recall. A Class II recall means that the consumption of the product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, or that the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote. However, the presence of stainless steel fragments—a type of foreign matter—poses a direct risk of injury, including potential dental damage or internal lacerations if swallowed.

Your immediate course of action should be simple and decisive:

  1. Do Not Eat It: Immediately stop consuming the affected shredded cheese products.
  2. Discard or Return: Do not simply throw the product in the trash without documenting it. The official guidance from Aldi and the manufacturer is to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Even if you no longer have the receipt, you should be able to receive a refund by returning the packaging to any Aldi store.
  3. Check All Shredded Cheese: Given the widespread nature of the Great Lakes Cheese recall, which affects numerous store brands, check any shredded cheese you have in your home, regardless of the brand, if it was purchased around the time of the recall notices.

The Broader Context of Food Recalls and Supplier Oversight

This incident highlights the complex and sometimes vulnerable nature of the global food supply chain. When a major supplier, such as Great Lakes Cheese Co. Inc., is responsible for products distributed to major retailers like Aldi, Walmart, and Target, a single lapse in quality control can lead to a massive, multi-state recall.

The source of the contamination was identified as a raw material supplier of low-moisture part-skim mozzarella, suggesting a breakdown occurred early in the manufacturing process, likely involving equipment failure that allowed stainless steel fragments to enter the product. The FDA’s ongoing investigation is crucial for determining the exact root cause and ensuring corrective actions are taken to prevent future occurrences.

Understanding Class II Recalls

The FDA utilizes a classification system to communicate the severity of a food recall:

  • Class I: The most serious. Involves a reasonable probability that using or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
  • Class II: The current classification for this cheese recall. Indicates that using or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences. This is a serious warning that should not be ignored.
  • Class III: The least serious. Indicates that using or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.

The classification of this event as Class II underscores the potential danger of ingesting sharp metal fragments. The fragments could cause injury to the mouth, throat, digestive tract, or even require medical intervention in severe cases.

Topical Authority: Key Entities and Safety Measures

Building a comprehensive understanding of this recall requires recognizing the key entities and factors involved in maintaining food safety standards in the United States and globally. This event is a clear example of how multiple layers of oversight and quality control must function simultaneously.

Key Entities and Terms:

  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): The federal agency responsible for protecting public health by assuring the safety of the food supply. They issue the official recall classifications and track the effectiveness of the recall.
  • Great Lakes Cheese Co. Inc.: The Ohio-based manufacturer responsible for producing the shredded cheese products under various brand labels, including Aldi's Happy Farms.
  • Happy Farms: Aldi's private-label brand under which the recalled Colby Jack and Italian Style shredded cheese were sold.
  • Stainless Steel Fragments: The specific foreign matter contamination identified in the products, originating from a supplier's raw material.
  • Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella: The raw ingredient whose supplier was the source of the metal contamination.
  • Colby Jack & Italian Style Blend: The specific cheese varieties affected at Aldi stores.
  • Class II Recall: The FDA's intermediate severity classification, indicating a non-life-threatening but medically significant risk.
  • UPC/Batch Codes: Unique product identifiers that allow consumers and retailers to pinpoint the exact affected batches.

In conclusion, while the recall is extensive and affects a widely available, popular product, consumers have clear, actionable steps to take. By checking the specific batch codes and best-by dates for the Happy Farms Colby Jack and Italian Style shredded cheese, you can easily determine if your product is affected and secure a full refund by returning it to your local Aldi store.

Urgent Alert: 5 Critical Facts About The Massive Aldi Cheese Recall Due To Metal Contamination
aldi cheese has been recalled due to metal contamination.
aldi cheese has been recalled due to metal contamination.

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