Something you purchased has been recalled. What does that mean?
What happens if something you purchase is recalled? Is it voluntary or mandatory? And what does it mean for you?
A recall involving hundreds of thousands of bags of popular Zapp’s and Dirty brand potato chips has been classified at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s most serious alert level due to the risk of salmonella contamination.
On July 1, the FDA classified this voluntary recall as a Class I recall, the highest risk. According to the FDA, a Class I recall means there is a “reasonable probability” that ingestion or exposure to the affected product will cause serious health harm or death.
The potato chips were first recalled in May by Utz Quality Foods, a subsidiary of Utz Brands. The company learned that condiments made with milk powder supplied by a third-party manufacturer may contain salmonella. Although the affected batches of seasoning tested negative before use, Utz said he issued the recall out of an abundance of caution.
The company said it has not received any reports of illness related to the recalled products.
Consumers with affected chips should throw them away without eating them. Retailers were told to remove the products from their stores.
Here’s what you need to know about the recall of more than 650,000 bags of potato chips.
Which potato chips are being recalled?
The FDA’s Class I recall includes the following products:
- 1.5 oz Zapp’s Bayou Blackened Ranch Potato Chips (164,640 bags)
- 2.5 oz., 8 oz. Zapp’s Bayou Blackened Ranch Potato Chips (179,837 bags)
- 2 oz Dirty Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips (300,595 bags)
- 1.5 oz Zapp’s Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips (60 pieces)
- 2 oz Dirty Maui Onion Potato Chips (5,000 bags)
- 8oz, 2.5oz Zapp’s Big Cheezy Potato Chips (14,976 bags)
- 2 oz Dirty Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips (19,200 bags)
The recalled products were sold at retail stores nationwide. Consumers should check the expiration date and batch code on the package listed on the FDA recall notice to determine if their chips are affected.
Why was the chip recalled?
Utz said the recalled products include condiments made with milk powder supplied by California Dairy, which may be contaminated with salmonella. The recall is part of a broader investigation that has also led to recalls of other foods containing the same ingredient.
What to do if you own recalled potato chips
Don’t eat recalled potato chips. For questions or refunds, please contact Utz Customer Care at 1-877-423-0149 Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Eastern Time.
What is salmonella?
Salmonella is a type of bacteria that can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common foodborne illnesses.
Common symptoms usually appear 6 hours to 6 days after eating contaminated food and include diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Most people recover within four to seven days, but young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of severe illness.
In rare cases, salmonella infections can spread to the bloodstream and cause life-threatening complications.
Contributor: Greta Cross, USA TODAY
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or X @athompsonUSAT.
