ALDI Recalls 4 Cream Cheese Spreads Over Salmonella Risk

ALDI has issued a recall of four types of cream cheese over a potential salmonella risk.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the 8-ounce cream cheese spreads, which are part of ALDI’s Happy Farms private-label brand, have been sold in 28 states and the District of Columbia. In its official recall notice, the grocer warned customers that the following products, with the following universal product codes (UPCs), are affected:

• Whipped Cream Cheese Spread, with UPC 4099100101881
• Chive & Onion Cream Cheese Spread, with UPC 4099100101751
• Cream Cheese Spread, with UPC 4099100101737
• Strawberry Cream Cheese Spread, with UPC 4099100101744

The official recall notice was issued on May 9 in cooperation with Schreiber Foods Inc., which produced the cream cheese products. No illnesses or injuries have yet been reported in connection to the potential salmonella contamination.

Affected customers are advised to either stop using the product immediately and discard it or return it to their nearest ALDI store for a full refund. Any further questions should be directed to Schreiber Foods Inc. at 1-800-644-5473 or email consumer.relations@schreiberfoods.com.

Last week, Hy-Vee — a popular grocery chain in the Midwest — also issued a recall for cream cheese products. Like the ALDI recall, the Hy-Vee cream cheese product recall was voluntary, and it too was for its private-label products.

Additionally, at the beginning of the month, the USDA issued a recall of more than 16,000 pounds of ground beef sold at Walmart and other retailers due to potential E. coli contamination.

This increase in product recalls is a sign of a wider, national trend that has some consumers questioning the true safety of their foods.

Experts, however, say there’s nothing to worry about.

According to the 2024 State of the Nation Recall Index analysis by Sedgwick Brand Protection, there was an 11% increase in product recalls between 2022 and 2023 — a level not seen in seven years. 3,301 recalls in five industries — automotive, consumer products, food and beverage, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals — were discovered in the research for 2023, according to a news release from Sedgwick.

Sedgwick said that while recalls rose for the second year in a row last year, the quantity of defective units, whether it be a single car or food packet, dropped by more than 50% compared to 2022.