Two of the nation’s latest food recalls concern cheese — and lots of it.
The recalls are distinct, citing different food safety concerns: one involves hundreds of thousands of containers of shredded mozzarella and multi-cheese blends, while the other affects several brands of grated Pecorino Romano. Both recalls target products that have sell-by or expiration dates in 2026 and are sold in major retailers in multiple states.
The shredded cheese recall
Great Lakes Cheese, an Ohio-based packager, initiated a recall in early October of several shredded cheese products — from low-moisture part-skim mozzarella to Italian-style and pizza-style blends — because they may contain fragments of metal. The FDA upgraded the recall to Class II this week, meaning consumption could cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.
Affected cheeses were sold under dozens of brand names at nationwide retailers including Target, Walmart, Publix and Aldi and were distributed to 31 states and Puerto Rico: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, plus Puerto Rico. The recalled bags carry varying sell-by dates in February and March 2026.
Recalled product examples include:
– Low-moisture, part-skim shredded mozzarella from brands such as Always Save, Borden, Brookshire’s, Cache Valley Creamery, Chestnut Hill, Coburn Farms, Econo, Food Club, Food Lion, Gold Rush Creamery, Good & Gather, Great Lakes Cheese, Happy Farms by Aldi, H-E-B, Hill Country Fare, Know & Love, Laura Lynn, Lucerne Dairy Farms, Nu Farm, Publix, Schnuck’s, Simply Go, Sprouts Farmers Market, Stater Bros. Markets and Sunnyside Farms.
– Italian-style shredded cheese blends under brands including Brookshire’s, Cache Valley Creamery, Coburn Farms, Great Value, Happy Farms by Aldi, Know & Love, Laura Lynn, Publix and Simply Go.
– Shredded pizza-style blends from Econo, Food Club, Great Value, Gold Rush Creamery, Laura Lynn and Simply Go.
– Mozzarella and provolone blends and mozzarella and Parmesan blends sold under various store and national brands.
The full list of affected products is on the FDA’s website.
The Pecorino Romano recall
The Ambriola Company, a New Jersey-based cheese distributor, announced a recall after routine testing confirmed Listeria in products processed at its facility. No illnesses had been reported at the time of the announcement, but the company recalled products processed between Nov. 3 and 20 “out of an abundance of caution.” Ambriola said it alerted stores and distributors and is working with the FDA while continuing testing.
Recalled Pecorino Romano products are sold in plastic containers and pound-size bags under brand names Ambriola, Locatelli, Pinna, Boar’s Head and Member’s Mark, with expiration dates ranging from February to May 2026. Walmart indicates some affected products were sold at Walmart locations in 14 states and Sam’s Club locations in 27 states. Wegmans separately issued a recall of Locatelli-brand grated Pecorino Romano sold in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C., between Nov. 14 and 24.
What to do
The FDA urges consumers to discard the recalled cheeses or return them to the place of purchase for a refund. Anyone who ate the recalled Pecorino Romano and develops symptoms of listeria infection — which usually start within two weeks and can include fever, headache, stiff neck and muscle aches — should contact a healthcare provider. Ambriola has suspended production and distribution of affected products while it reviews sanitation and food safety procedures.