Class II U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Great Lakes Cheese Co Inc Mozzarella and provolone shredded cheese blend recall: Potential metal fragments from supplier raw material (downstream recall)

Recall published 11 months ago

Potential metal fragments from supplier raw material (downstream recall)

The hazard: Foreign material — metal

This is a foreign-material recall — metal where there should be none. An affected pack looks identical to a sound one from the outside.

What the notice says: Potential metal fragments from supplier raw material (downstream recall)

Why it matters: Pieces of metal may be inside the product. The risk here is physical rather than microbial: cuts to the mouth or throat, a broken tooth, or an injury further down if a fragment is swallowed.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

If someone has swallowed a fragment and has mouth or throat pain, trouble swallowing, chest or stomach pain, vomiting, or blood in saliva or stool, they should be seen the same day. A fragment swallowed without symptoms usually passes on its own, but tell the clinician exactly what the product was: metal shows up clearly on an X-ray, so imaging can confirm whether anything is still there.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Recall number
H-0220-2026
Published
December 10, 2025
Risk level
Class II
Status
Terminated
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Great Lakes Cheese Co Inc
Product type
Dairy
Units affected
4,131 cases
Distribution
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, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin
Made in
United States
Lot / code info
Batch/Sell By Date: 1) Freedom's Choice 0008922161 2/22/2026 2) Good & Gather 0008904402 3/14/2026 3) Great Lakes Cheese 1500562637 1/14/2026 0008901792 1/15/2026 4) Great Value 1500558204 2/7/2026 0008911238 2/12/2026 0008922240 2/19/2026 0008915069 2/20/2026
UPC codes
4279810410, 8523903871, 3651415115, 7874226743

Products covered by this recall

Mozzarella and provolone shredded cheese blend (containing low-moisture part-skim mozzarella and not-smoked provolone cheeses), individually packaged in a plastic bag, as: 1) Freedom's Choice Pizza Blend - Fine-Cut, 32 oz., UPC 4279810410, 6/case 2) Good & Gather Mozzarella & Provolone - Classic, 8 oz., UPC 8523903871, 12/case 3) Great Lakes Cheese Mozzarella & Provolone - Shredded, 5 lb., UPC 3651415115, 4/case 4) Great Value Provolone & Mozzarella Blend - Shredded, 16 oz., UPC 7874226743, 5/case

Check your product

The notice names 4 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 32 oz
  • 8 oz
  • 5 lb
  • 16 oz

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Food & cosmetics enforcement notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Metal pieces

Great Lakes Cheese Co Inc — This is a foreign-material recall — metal where there should be none. An affected pack looks identical to a sound one from the outside.

  1. Stop eating it, and do not pick through it to find the fragment — sorting it by hand is how people get cut.
  2. Return it to the store or bin it sealed, and claim the refund using the lot code from the label.
  3. Check the freezer and the pantry for other packs carrying the same codes before you consider the matter closed.
  4. If someone has already bitten into something hard, have them stop, spit out what is in their mouth and rinse rather than swallow.

Getting a refund without the pack

The commonest reason people skip the refund is that they have already thrown the item away. That rarely matters.

  • A photo of the label and lot code is accepted by most grocers, and so is a card statement line showing the purchase.
  • Store credit is often offered first. You can ask for the original payment method instead, and it is normally granted.
  • No photo either? Ask anyway. Grocery chains settle recall refunds at the service desk because disputing them costs more than paying them.
  • For a multi-pack or a case, ask for the full purchase price rather than a per-unit figure — the recall covers what you paid.

Company contact: Great Lakes Cheese Co Inc — 17825 Great Lakes Pkwy, Hiram, OH, 44234-9677

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Food & cosmetics enforcement record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Great Lakes Cheese Co Inc dairy recalled?

Potential metal fragments from supplier raw material (downstream recall) Potential metal fragments from supplier raw material (downstream recall)

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

The notice does not publish package codes for this recall. Compare the product name, size and the purchase window against the official FDA — Food & cosmetics enforcement record, and contact the company if you are unsure.

What should I do with it right now?

Stop eating it, and do not pick through it to find the fragment — sorting it by hand is how people get cut.

Can I get my money back?

A photo of the label and lot code is accepted by most grocers, and so is a card statement line showing the purchase.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky and others.

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