(Bloomberg) -- U.S. supermarket chainJewel-Osco removed all of its Essential Everyday 100% ParmesanCheese from shelves amid concerns about the use of cellulose, afood additive made from wood.

The move follows a Bloomberg News investigation published Feb. 16that revealed a canister of the grated cheese tested by anindependent laboratory contained 8.8% cellulose. A level of as muchas 4% is deemed acceptable to meet federal regulations for what canbe labeled Parmesan.

Jewel-Osco recalled the product from all 185 stores onWednesday, spokeswoman Mary Frances Trucco said in an e-mailThursday. The company is phasing out the brand and replacing itwith its Jewel-Osco Signature Brand.

“Our supplier of the Parmesan cheese is aware of the issue, andwe look forward to learning more about their investigation,” shesaid. The company didn’t identify its supplier.

Industry experts estimate 20% of domestically-produced Parmesancheese may be mislabeled, largely due to fillers like cellulose ingrated products.

USDA inspection

Other retailers whose Parmesan was found in the same lab test tohave more than 4% cellulose said they’re looking into the matter.Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s Great Value 100% Grated Parmesan Cheeseregistered 7.8%, while the Whole Foods 365 brand tested at0.3% despite not listing cellulose as an ingredient on the label.The companies didn’t immediately return requests for commentThursday.

A U.S. Food and DrugAdministration inspection of a cheese company in 2012, detailsof which were obtained by Bloomberg News through the Freedom ofInformation Act, said “no Parmesan cheese” was used inmanufacturing Target Corp.’s Market Pantry brand 100% gratedParmesan Cheese, as well as Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc.’sBest Choice 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese. The two companies didn’timmediately respond to requests for comment Thursday.

--With assistance from Bob Ivry.

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