Class II U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Great Value Cottage Cheese recall: Not fully pasteurized

Recall published 8 months ago

Not fully pasteurized.

Great Value Dairy — recalled dairyGreat Value Dairy — recalled dairy (photo 2)Great Value Dairy — recalled dairy (photo 3)Great Value Dairy — recalled dairy (photo 4)
4 photos published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Food safety concern

The notice above sets out the specific concern. Whatever the cause, the practical answer with food is the same: stop eating it and claim the refund.

What the notice says: Consuming products that are not fully pasteurized can pose a significant health risk, especially to the young and elderly or immunocompromised individuals.

Why it matters: The agency identified a problem with this product that made it unsafe or unfit to sell. The official summary above describes what it was.

Recall details

Recall number
H-0579-2026, H-0581-2026, H-0582-2026, H-0583-2026
Published
February 24, 2026
Risk level
Class II
Status
Terminated
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Great Value
Product type
Dairy
Units affected
422 cs/12/16oz tubs + 195cs/323oz tubs; 736cs/12/24oz tubs; 7,694cs/12/24oz tubs
Distribution
Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
Sold at
Walmart
Lot / code info
BEST IF USED BY MAR-31-26 A3 PLT# 06-71 — BEST IF USED BY APR-01-26 B2 PLT#06-71 & BEST IF USED BY APR-03-26 PLT #06-71 — BEST IF USED BY APR-01-26 PLT #06-71, BEST IF USED BY APR-02-26 PLT #06-71 & BEST IF USED BY APR-03-26 PLT #06-71 — 16oz Tub: BEST IF USED BY APR-02-26 PLT #06-71 24oz tub: BEST IF USED BY APR-03-26 PLT# 06-71 3LB TUB: BEST IF USED BY APR-01-26 B2 PLT#06-71 & BEST IF USED BY APR-02-26 B3 PLT# 06-71
UPC codes
078742373393, 078742116730, 078742372358, 078742372365, 078742147970, 070852544007, 070852542003

Products covered by this recall

Cottage Cheese

What the company announced

“The company has issued a correction (to identify the PLT# (plant code) in the “Best If Used By” date) to the previous announcement”.

Saputo Cheese USA Inc. (SUSA or Saputo) is voluntarily recalling select cottage cheese products produced by SUSA due to the possibility of liquid dairy ingredients used in the items not being fully pasteurized according to state regulatory standards. Consuming products that are not fully pasteurized can pose a significant health risk, especially to the young and elderly or immunocompromised individuals.

The issue was discovered during pasteurizer troubleshooting exercises conducted by SUSA in conjunction with the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The impacted pasteurizer was returned to normal function and was verified and sealed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. No other products produced in the facility were affected.

The affected products were sold under the Great Value label and were distributed to Walmart stores and distribution centers in Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, Washington and Wyoming between February 17 and February 20, 2026, and include:

  • Product Name: Great Value Fat Free Small Curd Cottage Cheese – 0% Milkfat · Packaging Type & Size: 24 oz. container · UPC: 078742373393 · Expiration Dates: BEST IF USED BY APR-01-26 BEST IF USED BY APR-03-26 · PLT#: 06-71
  • Product Name: Great Value Lowfat Small Curd Cottage Cheese – 2% Milkfat · Packaging Type & Size: 24 oz. container · UPC: 078742116730 · Expiration Dates: BEST IF USED BY APR-01-26 BEST IF USED BY APR-02-26 BEST IF USED BY APR-03-26
  • Product Name: Great Value Small Curd Cottage Cheese – 4% milkfat minimum · Packaging Type & Size: 16 oz. container · UPC: 078742372358 · Expiration Dates: BEST IF USED BY APR-02-26
  • Product Name: 24 oz. container · Packaging Type & Size: 078742372365 · UPC: BEST IF USED BY APR-02-26 BEST IF USED BY APR-03-26
  • Product Name: 3 lb. container · Packaging Type & Size: 078742147970 · UPC: BEST IF USED BY APR-01-26 BEST IF USED BY APR-02-26

All products were sold in white plastic tubs with white lids. The “Best If Used By” date and the PLT# (plant code) are located on the side of the container’s lid. Please see photo example below for ease of identification.

Recalled products will meet all of the requirements outlined in the chart (product #, size, UPC, Best if Used By Date and Plant Code), plus they should have been purchased at one of the states listed. If any of these categories does not fit the product, then it is not included in the recall (i.e. has all the matching information, but not purchased in a listed state, then the product is not recalled).

Customers who purchased the affected products should not consume them and can return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, contact Saputo at 1-888-587-2423 from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. CT.

This recall is being made with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration.

About Saputo USA

Saputo USA is part of Saputo Inc., one of the top 10 dairy processors in the world. Through the Dairy Division (USA), Saputo produces, markets and distributes a vast assortment of cheeses. Furthermore, the company converts, markets and sells a broad range of specialty cheeses and holds an important portfolio of import licenses for specialty cheeses manufactured abroad. Saputo USA also produces a variety of dairy and non-dairy extended shelf-life products. Additionally, Saputo produces, markets and distributes dairy ingredients in the USA and on the international market. Products are sold under a variety of the company's brand names as well as under customer brand names.

Saputo USA is among the top mozzarella, string cheese and domestic blue and goat cheese producers and is one of the largest producers of extended shelf-life and cultured dairy products in this region.

Saputo USA is the trading name of Saputo Cheese USA Inc.

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 22 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

UPC / barcode

Read the twelve digits under the barcode on the package.

  • 078742373393
  • 078742116730
  • 078742372358
  • 078742372365
  • 078742147970
  • 070852544007
  • 070852542003

Best-by / use-by date

Printed beside the lot code, not on the price sticker.

  • APR-03-26
  • APR-02-26
  • APR-01-26
  • 12
  • 16oz
  • APR-01-26 B2 PLT#06-71
  • 24oz
  • APR-01-26 PLT #06-71
  • 694cs
  • 947cs

Package size

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

  • 24 oz
  • 16 oz
  • 3 lb
  • 32 OZ
  • 323 oz

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Food safety

Great Value — The notice above sets out the specific concern. Whatever the cause, the practical answer with food is the same: stop eating it and claim the refund.

  1. Stop eating it and check the codes on your pack against the identifiers listed on this page.
  2. Bag it and bin it, or return it to the store for a refund.
  3. Wash anything it touched, and clean the shelf it was stored on if the pack has leaked.
  4. Check the freezer and pantry for other packs from the same codes.

How to get your money back

Food recalls carry a full refund, and in the United States you usually do not need the receipt or the packaging.

  • Take the product, or your photo of the label, to the customer service desk of the store where you bought it. Nearly every national grocer refunds recalled food on the spot.
  • Bought it online? Open the order in your account and use the refund option; marketplace sellers are required to honour a federal recall.
  • If the store refuses, contact the recalling company using the details on this page. The firm, not the shop, carries the cost of a recall.
  • If you have a loyalty card, the retailer can look the purchase up in your history — Kroger, Costco and Walmart all do this routinely.

Remedy named in the notice: Customers who purchased the affected products should not consume them and can return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Company contact: Saputo Cheese USA, Inc. — Consumers: Saputo, 1-888-587-2423 — Media: Marlene Robillard, Senior Director, Communications and Public Relations, 1-514-328-3366 ext. 5002036 / 1-866-648-5902, [email protected]

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 — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Great Value dairy recalled?

Not fully pasteurized. Consuming products that are not fully pasteurized can pose a significant health risk, especially to the young and elderly or immunocompromised individuals.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: UPC 078742373393, 078742116730, 078742372358; best-by date APR-03-26 or APR-02-26. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

Stop eating it and check the codes on your pack against the identifiers listed on this page.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Customers who purchased the affected products should not consume them and can return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Which states were affected?

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

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