Three different variations of cottage cheese products, sold under the Great Value label at Walmart stores in 24 states, have been recalled.
In a company announcement made Tuesday and later shared on the FDA website, Saputo Cheese USA Inc. issued a voluntary recall of select cottage cheese products due to “the possibility of liquid dairy ingredients used in the items not being fully pasteurized according to state regulatory standards.”
While Saputo noted that there have been no illnesses or hospitalizations associated with the affected products reported to date, it stressed that “consuming products that are not fully pasteurized can pose a significant health risk, especially to the young and elderly or immunocompromised individuals.”
The three recalled products are the 24-ounce versions of the Great Value Fat Free Small Curd Cottage Cheese – 0% Milkfat, 2% Milkfat and 4% Milkfat minimum. The latter’s 3-pound and 16-ounce tubs have also been recalled.
All impacted products were packaged in white tubs with white lids. They 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.
Customers should check the “Best Buy” dates located on the sides of the containers. The 0% cottage cheese tubs with the UPC code 078742373393 will be labeled Best if Used by APR-01-26 and Best if Used By APR-03- 26.
The 2% tubs with the UPC code 078742116730 will be labeled Best If Used By APR-01-26, Best If Used By APR-02-26 and Best If Used By APR-03-26.
Meanwhile, the 24-ounce container of the 4% with the code 078742372365 will have a Best If Used By date of APR-03-26; its 16-ounce tub with the code 078742372358 will be labeled Best If Used By APR-02-26; and the 3-pound tub with the 078742147970 code will read Best If Used By APR-01-26 and Best If Used By APR-02-26.
It was noted that the issue was discovered during pasteurizer troubleshooting exercises conducted by Saputo. “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 company said.
Anybody who purchased the affected products is warned against consuming them and should dispose or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.