Pouches of shredded cheese sold at Aldi’s stores in four states have been recalled because of possible metal contamination.
Newsweek has contacted Aldi for comment via email outside regular working hours.
Why It Matters
Food recalls are initiated when a product is deemed to have the potential to adversely affect a person when consumed.
Foreign objects being discovered in food is a relatively rare recall reason, with more common reasons including bacterial or viral contamination or the presence of undeclared allergens.
What To Know
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the recall of 400 cases of 340g Happy Farms’ Colby Jack cheese pouches, which had been distributed in stores across Connecticut, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
The products have expiration dates of July 13 and 14, 2025, and a universal product code of 4061463330840.
According to the FDA, Great Lakes Cheese Company Inc. voluntarily initiated the recall on February 15, and it is classed as “ongoing.” On March 19, the FDA gave the recall a Class II risk classification.
Under the FDA’s definition, a Class II recall is “a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”
Between 2020 and 2024, the presence of foreign objects in food items, such as small pieces of plastic or metal, accounted for about 10 percent of recalls issued by U.S. health authorities—the FDA and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)—according to analysis by regulatory compliance company Trace One.
In 2024, more than 100,000 pounds of turkey kielbasa products were recalled after the product was discovered to have fragments of bone inside. The FSIS confirmed at the time that one of the complainants suffered a “minor oral injury” after eating the product. In December 2023, more than 25,000 pounds of boneless chicken bites were recalled following the discovery of clear, hard plastic fragments.
Trace One also found that the total number of food recalls issued in the U.S. increased by 15 percent between 2020 and 2024.
What People Are Saying
Trace One said in a report published in February: “These [foreign object] contaminants can cause physical harm, such as choking, dental damage, or internal injuries if ingested.”
What Happens Next
If you find food in your home that has been recalled, the FDA recommends checking the recall notice for specific instructions. These are usually to throw it away or return it to the place of purchase.
If you or anyone in your household has consumed the product, watch for symptoms, such as feeling unwell or other adverse reactions.
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