Why food recalls are increasing
E.Coli, metal and even a dead bat have been found in recalled food. In fact, food recalls are increasing. Yet, that might actually be a good sign. Here’s why.
USA TODAY
A shredded cheese recall includes brands sold at several grocery stores in Missouri, according to an updated Food and Drug Administration report. The recalled cheese may contain metal pieces.
Ohio-based Great Lakes Cheese Co. initiated the recall in early October, stating the affected cheese may be contaminated with metal fragments, which could cause injury if consumed, per the report. The FDA reclassified the recall to a “Class II” on Dec. 1, meaning the food “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.”
The recalled cheese products were sold under dozens of brand names at retailers across the country, including Walmart, Target and Aldi.
Here’s what to know:
Which shredded cheese brands were recalled?
The FDA report lists low-moisture part-skim mozzarella shredded cheese, individually packaged in plastic bags, under the following names sold in Missouri:
- Always Save (sold at Moser’s, Price Chopper, Price Cutter and other independent markets) – Shredded, 5 lb.
- Borden – Shredded, 8 oz., 6 or 12/case
- Brookshire’s – Finely Shredded, 8 oz.
- Shredded, 8 oz., 12/case
- Shredded, 32 oz., 6/case
- Thick Cut, 8 oz., 12/case
- Cache Valley Creamery – Shredded, 8 oz.
- Chestnut Hill – Fancy Shredded, 8 oz.
- Coburn Farms – Shredded, 8 oz.
- Shredded, 12 oz.
- Shredded, 32 oz.
- Econo – Shredded, 8 oz.
- Food Club – Finely Shredded, 8 oz., 12/case
- Shredded, 8 oz.
- Shredded, 16 oz.
- Shredded, 32 oz., tube-style bag
- Shredded, 32 oz., square-style bag
- Gold Rush Creamery – Shredded, 8 oz.
- Good & Gather (sold at Target) – Fine Cut, 8 oz.
- Classic, 8 oz.
- Classic, 32 oz.
- Great Lakes Cheese – Shredded, 5 lb.
- Great Value (sold at Walmart) – Finely Shredded, 8 oz.
- Finely Shredded, 16 oz.
- Shredded, 8 oz.
- Shredded, 16 oz.
- Shredded, 32 oz.
- Shredded, 5 lb.
- Happy Farms by Aldi – Shredded, 16 oz.
- Laura Lynn – Finely Shredded, 8 oz.
- Shredded, 8 oz.
- Shredded, 12 oz.
- Shredded, 16 oz.
- Thick Cut Shredded, 8 oz.
- Lucerne Dairy Farms – Finely Shredded, 8 oz.
- Shredded, 8 oz.
- Shredded Family Size, 32 oz.
- Rustic Cut, 8 oz.
- Rustic Cut Family Size, 32 oz.
- Schnuck’s – Shredded, 8 oz.
- Simply Go – Classic Cut Shredded, 8 oz.
- Classic Cut Shredded, 32 oz.
- Rustic Cut Shredded, 8 oz.
- Sprouts Farmers Market – Finely Shredded, 8 oz.
- Shredded Value Pack, 32 oz.
- Sunnyside Farms – Shredded, 16 oz.
Store brands sold at retailers outside of Missouri include Food Club, Food Lion, H-E-B, Ingles, Publix, Ralphs, Stater Bros/ Markets and Winn-Dixie
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
- Brookshire’s Italian 6-Cheese – Finely Shredded, 8 oz.
- Cache Valley Creamery Six Cheese Italian – Finely Shredded, 8 oz.
- Coburn Farms Italian Style – Finely Shredded, 12 oz.
- Great Value Italian Style (Sold at Walmart) – Finely Shredded, 8 oz.
- Simply Go Italian Style Six Cheese Blend – Fine Cut Shredded, 8 oz.
Store brands sold at retailers outside of Missouri include Ingles, Publix and Winn-Dixie
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:
- Econo Pizza – Shredded, 8 oz.
- Gold Rush Creamery Pizza Blend – Shredded, 32 oz.
- Great Value Pizza Blend – Shredded, 8 oz.
- Simply Go Pizza Blend Two Cheese Mix – Classic Cut Shredded, 32 oz.
Store brands outside Missouri include Food Club and Ingles.
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.
- Good & Gather Mozzarella & Provolone (sold at Target) – Classic, 8 oz.
- Great Lakes Cheese Mozzarella & Provolone – Shredded, 5 lb.
- Great Value Provolone & Mozzarella Blend (sold at Walmart) – Shredded, 16 oz.
Mozzarella & Parmesan shredded cheese blend, individually packaged in a plastic bag, sold under the following names:
- Good & Gather Mozzarella & Parmesan shredded cheese blend (sold at Target) – Fine Cut, 8 oz.
Tips to help manage food recalls and prevent foodborne illnesses
About 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 people die each year from preventable foodborne illnesses.
Payton, USA TODAY
Where were the recalled cheeses sold?
All in all, the cheeses were distributed to 31 states and Puerto Rico. Affected states include:
- 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
Has the cheese been removed from store shelves?
Great Lakes Cheese said in a statement that all affected products have been fully removed from store shelves and replaced with new products, adding that any of its products currently on sale are safe to consume and not associated with the October recall.
What to do with recalled shredded 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.