Great Value Cottage Cheese Recall Lawsuit | 2026 Latest Updates

Saputo Cheese USA voluntarily recalled five Great Value cottage cheese products in February 2026. The company began the recall on February 21 and announced it on February 24. The FDA published its own recall notice the next day. The recall covers Fat Free, Lowfat 2%, and 4% Milkfat Small Curd cottage cheese in 16-ounce, 24-ounce, and 3-pound tubs. Saputo pulled the products after finding that some liquid dairy ingredients might not have received full pasteurization. The FDA classified the recall as Class II risk on March 18, 2026, and it remains open. Anyone who bought the affected cottage cheese should stop eating it and return it to Walmart for a refund.

Latest Great Value Cottage Cheese Recall Updates

March 18, 2026: FDA Classifies Recall as Class II Risk

A Newsweek report says the FDA formally classified the Great Value cottage cheese recall as a Class II risk on March 18, 2026 [1]. That came several weeks after Saputo Cheese USA first announced the recall. A Class II classification means the FDA expects temporary or medically reversible harm, or a remote chance of serious harm. FDA records tie the recall to Event ID 98479. No end date had been announced as of the report.

February 24, 2026: Saputo Recalls Five Great Value Cottage Cheese Products

The recall began on February 21, 2026, when Saputo Cheese USA pulled five recalled Great Value cottage cheese products from store shelves and announced it publicly on February 24. The FDA’s notice followed the next day [2]. Saputo said some dairy ingredients might not have gone through full pasteurization. The company also corrected an earlier version of the announcement to add the missing plant code.

Which Great Value Cottage Cheese Products Are Affected?

The recall covers five Great Value cottage cheese products sold at Walmart stores and distribution centers in 24 states between February 17 and 20, 2026:

• Fat Free Small Curd Cottage Cheese (0% Milkfat), 24 oz, UPC 078742373393, Best If Used By April 1 or 3, 2026
• Lowfat Small Curd Cottage Cheese (2% Milkfat), 24 oz, UPC 078742116730, Best If Used By April 1, 2, or 3, 2026
• Small Curd Cottage Cheese (4% Milkfat minimum), 16 oz, UPC 078742372358, Best If Used By April 2, 2026
• Small Curd Cottage Cheese (4% Milkfat minimum), 24 oz, UPC 078742372365, Best If Used By April 2 or 3, 2026
• Small Curd Cottage Cheese (4% Milkfat minimum), 3 lb, UPC 078742147970, Best If Used By April 1 or 2, 2026

All five come in white plastic tubs with white lids, each printed with the Best If Used By date and the plant code. A product must match those details, plus the state of purchase, to be part of the recall.

Why Was Great Value Cottage Cheese Recalled?

Saputo Cheese USA recalled the products for one reason: some liquid dairy ingredients may not have been fully pasteurized under state standards. The company found the problem while troubleshooting a pasteurizer with the California Department of Food and Agriculture. State inspectors checked the pasteurizer, confirmed it worked properly again, and sealed it before Saputo resumed normal production. The company said no other products made at that plant were affected. Saputo carried out the recall voluntarily, with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA warns that unpasteurized dairy can pose a serious health risk, particularly to shoppers most vulnerable to foodborne illness.

Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses

Three sources speak to this recall: the recall notice, Saputo’s own page, and a later Newsweek report. None of them give a specific number of illness or injury reports. That silence does not mean that no illnesses happened, since no source read for this page states a count either way. According to the FDA’s raw milk guidance, eating dairy that is not fully pasteurized can cause foodborne illness [3]. The risk is higher for young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with weak immune systems. Anyone who got sick after eating the recalled cottage cheese should see a doctor right away and may also want to let the FDA know.

What Should Consumers Do?

Anyone who bought the recalled Great Value cottage cheese should take the following steps:

1. Do not eat the recalled cottage cheese, since unpasteurized ingredients may pose a health risk.
2. Look at the lid for the Best If Used By date and confirm the plant code reads 06-71.
3. Return the product to the Walmart store where it was purchased for a full refund.
4. Contact Saputo Cheese USA at 1-888-587-2423, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time, with any questions, or reach the FDA at 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332) to report a problem.
5. Watch for symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, fever, headache, or body aches, and see a doctor right away if they happen.
6. Pregnant women who ate the product should tell their doctor, since unpasteurized dairy carries added risks during pregnancy.

Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions

A Clover Sonoma Lowfat 2% Cottage Cheese product was also recalled under the same FDA event. It comes in 16-ounce and 32-ounce containers. Neither the recall notice nor Saputo’s page mentions Clover Sonoma. The detail comes from a later Newsweek report, which gives no exact date, UPC, or unit count for that product.

Legal Options

No lawsuit is known to exist over this recall (Event ID 98479). People harmed by it may have a food poisoning lawsuit claim worth a free review. A recall does not automatically establish liability or eligibility for compensation.

Filing Deadlines

Deadlines for a claim come from state law, not from this recall. They vary by where a person lives and by when the illness or diagnosis happened. Some states start the clock at the date of diagnosis rather than the date of exposure. Missing a deadline can end a claim, even with strong facts, so anyone who believes they were harmed should check with a lawyer soon.

Frequently Asked Questions

What States Are Affected by the Great Value Cottage Cheese Recall?

The Great Value cottage cheese recall affects 24 states: 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.

Can I File a Lawsuit over the Great Value Cottage Cheese Recall?

No lawsuit has been filed yet over the Great Value cottage cheese recall. As of September 28, 2026, the federal multidistrict litigation list named no matching case, so anyone harmed by it may still want a free case review.

What Are the Symptoms of Illness from Unpasteurized Dairy?

Symptoms of illness from unpasteurized dairy usually include vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, along with flu-like fever, headache, and body aches. Pregnant women face a higher risk of miscarriage or illness or death of the newborn, and anyone with symptoms should see a healthcare professional immediately.

What Is the FDA Recall Number for the Great Value Cottage Cheese Recall?

The Great Value cottage cheese recall carries FDA recall numbers H-0583-2026, H-0582-2026, H-0581-2026, and H-0579-2026. Consumers can search any of these numbers directly on FDA.gov to confirm whether a specific container is part of this recall.

What Should I Do If I Got Sick After Eating Recalled Cottage Cheese?

Anyone who got sick after eating recalled cottage cheese should keep the container, the receipt, and any photos as evidence, and mention the product by name during a doctor visit. That evidence can matter for a later legal claim.

Was a Purchase Price Listed for the Recalled Cottage Cheese?

No, Saputo’s recall notice does not list a price for the recalled cottage cheese. Consumers who return an affected container to Walmart still receive a full refund, regardless of what they originally paid.

References

1. https://www.newsweek.com/walmart-recall-update-fda-risk-level-cheese-11708655
2. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/saputo-usa-recalls-great-value-cottage-cheese-because-possible-health-risk
3. https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/dangers-raw-milk-unpasteurized-milk-can-pose-serious-health-risk