🥛 Fridge Check: Cottage Cheese Recall Reaches Alaska Walmart Stores

By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | March 2026

If you’ve stashed a tub of Great Value cottage cheese in your refrigerator recently, it’s worth taking a moment for a closer look.

A voluntary recall has been issued for several Great Value cottage cheese products after a production issue suggested that some liquid dairy ingredients may not have been fully pasteurized to meet state regulatory standards. The problem was discovered during pasteurizer checks by Saputo Cheese USA Inc. in conjunction with the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The recall was made with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration. 

While no illnesses or hospitalizations have been linked to the recalled products so far, consuming dairy that hasn’t been properly pasteurized can pose health risks, particularly for young children, older adults, pregnant people, and those with weakened immune systems. 

📍 Sold in Alaska Walmart Locations

The affected Great Value cottage cheese tubs were sold at Walmart stores and Walmart distribution centers in Alaska between February 17 and February 20, 2026, along with many other states nationwide. 

If you bought any of these products at Walmart in Alaska, you should not eat them. Instead, dispose of them or return them to the store where you bought them for a full refund. Customers can also contact Saputo at 1-888-587-2423 (Monday through Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM CT) for more information. 

🧾 Recalled Products

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

The tubs were sold in plain white plastic containers with white lids, with the “Best By” dates printed on the side of the lid. 

Here are the 24 states where the recalled Great Value cottage cheese was distributed and sold at Walmart stores or distribution centers, according to the FDA recall notice and reporting: 

1. Alaska
2. Alabama
3. Arkansas
4. Arizona
5. California
6. Colorado
7. Georgia
8. Iowa
9. Idaho
10. Illinois
11. Kansas
12. Kentucky
13. Louisiana
14. Missouri
15. Mississippi
16. Montana
17. New Mexico
18. Nevada
19. Oregon
20. Texas
21. Tennessee
22. Utah
23. Washington
24. Wyoming 

If you live in any of these states and purchased the affected products at Walmart, be sure to check your fridge. The FDA advises consumers not to eat the recalled cottage cheese, but to throw it out or return it for a full refund.

🧠 A Quick Word About Pasteurization

Pasteurization safely heats milk and dairy ingredients to kill harmful bacteria without affecting taste or nutrition. Dairy that isn’t fully pasteurized can carry pathogens such as Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli, which can cause foodborne illness. Public health agencies around the world recommend choosing pasteurized dairy to reduce the risk of sickness. 

For more photos and more details on the recalled products, check the full FDA recall notice.

Stay fridge-smart. A quick check today can save a stomachache tomorrow.