Every Major Food Recall in the Past Year

Target grocery carts closeup
Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

As the saying goes, nothing is certain in life but death and taxes, but we’d add another reality to that list: recalls, recalls, recalls. Government agencies are constantly blasting notices of potentially contaminated food, from meat to produce to packaged products. Cheapism has been keeping tabs on some of the most notable recalls and warnings over the past year, including the latest, which involves a slew of ready-to-eat veggies from Kroger. To stay on top of food recalls, check FoodSafety.gov for up-to-date information.


Related: Frozen Foods You Should Never Put in Your Cart

Packaged vegetables and veggies at a free street fair in Brazil
Pedro_Turrini/istockphoto

Risk: Listeria

A variety of ready-to-eat, packaged vegetable products, including salsas and diced vegetables, are being recalled from Kroger stores after a product sample tested positive for listeria. The potentially contaminated products were sold primarily from the produce and deli sections at Kroger stores in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. A complete risk of the recalled products can be found here. According to the FDA's announcement, all of the aforementioned vegetable products are now past their sell dates and are no longer on store shelves, but it is possible that shoppers could still have them in their refrigerators at home and if so, they should either be thrown out or returned to the store for a full refund.


Related: 21 Cooking Hazards That Could Have Disastrous Results

Market Pantry White Fudge Animal Cookies
U.S. Food & Drug Administration

Risk: Metal contamination

Market Pantry White Fudge Animal Cookies were recalled after wire was found in some of the cookies, which were sold nationwide exclusively at Target stores. Ingesting the cookies could, not surprisingly, cause injury and dental problems. The recalled product was sold in a 44-ounce plastic container shaped like a bear with the lot number Y052722 and a best by date of Feb. 21, 2023. The UPC code is 085239817698. Consumers should return the product to Target for a full refund.

Capri Sun Wild Cherry Flavored Juice Drink Blend pouches
Target

Risk: Contamination

Kraft Heinz voluntarily recalled 5,760 cases of Capri Sun pouches because diluted cleaning solution accidentally got into the product at one factory. The company was alerted to the problem by consumers complaining about the taste, and determined the cleaning solution was used on processing equipment. Anyone with Capri Sun Wild Cherry Flavored Juice Drink Blend pouches with a best by date of June 23, 2023, and carton UPC 087684001004 should not consume the product and return it to the store where it was purchased. For questions and reimbursement, call Kraft Heinz at 800-280-8252.


RelatedFood Expiration Dates and Food Freshness Labels Explained

Home Run Inn Frozen Pizza
fda.gov

Risk: Metal contamination

Home Run Inn Frozen Foods recalled more than 13,000 pounds of frozen pizza in August after consumers reported finding metal in their pizzas. One product, 33.5-ounce boxes of Home Run Inn Chicago's Premium Pizzeria Deluxe Sausage Classic Pizza, is affected. The boxes have a best by date of Dec. 3, 2022, and an establishment number of "EST. 18498-A" inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection mark. Consumers who purchased the pizza shouldn't eat it and should either throw it away or return it to place of purchase. Consumers with questions can contact Home Run Inn Frozen Foods at 630-783-9696, ext. 2151.

Pirq Plant Protein and Superfoods Shake- Chocolate
Target

Risk: potential microbial contamination, including Cronobacter sakazakii

A huge amount of nutritional and coffee drinks made by Lyons Magnus under various brand names have been recalled due to potential contamination issues. The products didn’t meet commercial sterility specifications and may contain Cronobacter sakazakii, which causes fever, vomiting, and urinary tract infection. In total, 53 products sold at Costco, Sam's Club, and grocery stores have been recalled, including Glucerna, Oatly, Aloha, and Premier Protein, among others. For a complete list of recalled beverages, and their lot codes and UPCs, see the FDA recall announcement. Consumers can also contact the Lyons Recall Support Center at 800-627-0557.

Amazon
Amazon

Risk: Possible plastic contamination

Trader Joe's announced in July that it was recalling its Soft-Baked Snickerdoodles, as the cookies may contain hard plastic pieces. Luckily there have been no reported injuries so far, but the company is asking customers who have the product to stop eating them immediately and return to Trader Joe's for a full refund.

JUST Egg
JUST Egg

Risk: Listeria

Eat Just Inc. is recalled its JUST Egg Chopped Spring Greens products in July from five states due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled lots tested negative before leaving the Alameda, California, manufacturing facility, but it was discovered the products share ingredients with recalled lots that tested positive. The products were distributed to retailers in these states: Arizona, California, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas. Consumers that have these recalled items should not eat them and should throw them away immediately. Anyone who has purchased any of the recalled products can also receive a full refund at the location where they purchased the item. 

Natierra Organic Freeze-Dried Blueberries
fda.gov

Risk: Lead

Natierra is voluntarily recalled its Organic Freeze-Dried Blueberry pouches because they may contain too much lead. The products were sold in retail stores and online, though specific stores were not named. There are two lots of products affected, both with 1.2 ounces of fruit from a packing facility in Lithuania: 

  • Lot 2021363-1 with best by date of 12/2024 and UPC 812907011160

  • Lot 2022026-1 with best by date of 01/2025 and UPC 812907011160

The FDA advises consumers not to consume the product and dispose of it. Refunds can be provided at the point of purchase or by emailing salesadmin@BrandStormInc.com if purchased on Natierra's website. Customers with questions can call the company at 310-559-0259 or send a direct message on Natierra's website.

Big Olaf Ice Cream- two cups of ice cream with store sign in background
Rachel L./Yelp

Risk: Listeria

Big Olaf Creamery, an ice cream brand based in Sarasota, Florida, has been linked to 22 cases of listeria and one death. The CDC is recommending that anyone who has products from the brand in their house should throw them out immediately. Additionally, consumers should clean anything in their home that might have touched the products, such as utensils or counters. The same guidance is being given to stores that sell the brand. Though the cases have been reported in 10 different states, nearly all of the patients, including the person who died, lived in or visited Florida in the past month.

Trader Joe's Lemony Arugula Basil Salad Kit
Trader Joe's

Risk: May contain wheat and eggs

Taylor Farms, which makes the Trader Joe's product, is pulled the salads from just one day of production — those with a Best if Used by date of June 2, 2022, as they may contain wheat and eggs, allergens not listed on the label. People who bought the product and are allergic to wheat or eggs are urged not to eat the salad.

Jif Peanut Butter
Courtesy of dollargeneral.com

Risk: Salmonella

Not long after rival brand Skippy issued a recall because of contamination from metal fragments, peanut-butter icon Jif also yanked products from shelves. Parent company J.M. Smucker said dozens of Jif products shipped to major retailers (including Costco) nationwide suffer from potential salmonella contamination. Now Deskins Candies, a candy maker in Bluefield, West Virginia, is recalling its treats made with Jif, urging consumers not to eat products sold in 16-ounce containers in three states. See whether you have another affected product by checking this list.

Directly above view of fresh red strawberries. All strawberries are clean with green leaves. There are lots of strawberries which are different sizes filling the frame of photograph.
anilakkus/istockphoto

Risk: Hepatitis A

If you bought FreshKampo or HEB organic strawberries between March 5 and April 25 and froze some for later, the FDA says to throw them out. Officials say the berries were the likely cause of a Hepatitis A outbreak that has sickened at least 17 people, with 12 requiring hospitalization. The berries were sold nationwide at major retailers including Aldi, HEB, Kroger, Safeway, Trader Joe's, and Walmart. Not sure where your berries came from? Toss them to be safe, officials say.

Gummy Recall
U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Risk: Foreign material contamination

Use caution before you indulge that candy craving, especially if you're a fan of gummy candy. After receiving several customer complaints, Mars Wrigley has recalled several notable varieties of gummies because the packages may contain thin metal strands. The recall applies to certain packages of Skittles Gummies, Starburst Gummies, and Life Savers Gummies. Consumers can identify whether their candy is included in the recall by checking this list of affected UPC codes.

Recall Beef
Food Safety and Inspection Service

Risk: E. coli

Over 120,000 pounds of ground beef have been recalled after E. coli was detected during routine testing. No illnesses linked to the beef from Lakeside Refrigerated Services have been confirmed. The raw ground beef products were sold under Thomas Farms, Nature's Reserve, Marketside Butcher, and Tajima brands at stores nationwide, including Walmart and Winn-Dixie. The recalled products were produced between Feb. 1 and April 8, and have "EST. 46841" inside the USDA mark of inspection on the packaging. The complete list of recalled ground beef can be found on the USDA's website, along with images of the products' labels. Customers can contact Lakeside at 800-493-9042 or customercare@lakesiderefrigerated.com.

null
Robert Kirk/istockphoto

Risk: Foreign material contamination

Over 9,000 cases of Skippy peanut butter were voluntarily recalled in late March because bits of stainless steel from a piece of manufacturing equipment may have been mixed in by accident.  The affected products: 40-ounce Skippy Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread with best-by dates of May 4 or 5, 2023; 16.3-ounce Skippy Reduced Fat Chunky Peanut Butter Spread with best-by dates of May 6 or 7, 2023; and 14-ounce Skippy Creamy Peanut Butter Blended With Plant Protein with a best-by date of May 10, 2023. If you have any of these products, you can return them to the store where you bought them for an exchange. Customers can also call Skippy at 866-475-4779 or visit www.peanutbutter.com/recall.

Buttermilk Pancake and Waffle Mix Recall
U.S. Food & Drug Administration

Risk: Foreign material contamination

Two brands of pancake and waffle mix produced by Continental Mills have been recalled for a disconcerting reason: Fragments from a cable in the processing machinery was found in a product sample. Two-pound packages of Great Value Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix, sold at Walmart, and Kroger Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix, sold at Kroger, are affected. The Great Value mix has UPC 078742370828, lot code KX2063, and a best-by date of Sept. 1, 2023. The Kroger mix has UPC 01111088219, a lot code of KX2063 or KX2064, and a best-by date of Sept. 1 or 2, 2023. Though no contaminated product or injuries have been reported, the FDA advises consumers to throw away the products and call 800-578-7832 for a refund.

Baby formula
dragana991/istockphoto

Risk: Salmonella and Cronobacter sakazakii

Abbott, the maker of popular brands of infant formula, expanded its powder-formula recall to include Similac PM 60/40. Previously affected formulas were Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare. There have been complaints of salmonella and Cronobacter sakazakii infections in four infants, and two have died. Cronobacter sakazakii can cause fever, poor feeding, excessive crying or low energy in babies. The exact products under the original recall have a multidigit code on the bottom of the container that starts with 22 through 37, contains K8, SH, or Z2, and expires April 1, 2022, or after. The affected Similac PM 60/40 is from lot No. 27032K80 (cans) or 27032K800 (cases). Customers can find out if their formula is affected by going to Similac's website and typing in the code on the bottom of the package, or calling 800-986-8540.

Dole Garden Salad
Walmart

Risk: Listeria

Dole did not have a good December. It announced two recalls of potentially contaminated bagged salad products distributed across the nation at major retailers including Walmart, Kroger, and Aldi, with products sold under brand names including Dole, Kroger, Marketside, Simply Nature, and many more. Unfortunately, the CDC now says that it has linked two deaths and 17 illnesses in 13 states to the salads. Affected products had best-by dates as late as Jan. 9, 2022, and product lot codes beginning with B, N, W, or Y in the upper right corner of the package.

Ground Beef in black foam package isolated on white (excluding the shadow)
subjug/istockphoto

Risk: E. coli 

Oregon-based Interstate Meat recalled more than 28,000 pounds of ground beef due to potential E. coli contamination at the beginning of 2022. The raw ground beef products were produced Dec. 20 and sold under several different labels at Kroger, Walmart, WinCo Foods, and Albertsons stores. The recall notice confirms the products were shipped to Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Affected products display establishment number “EST. 965” inside the USDA inspection mark.

Fresh Express Salad Products Recall
Fresh Express

Risk: Listeria

Fresh Express recalled dozens of its bagged salad products in December after the Michigan Department of Agriculture received a positive test for listeria from one of the brand's salad mixes. The products included everything from coleslaw mix to avocado ranch salad kits under the brand names Fresh Express, Bowl & Basket, Giant Eagle, Little Salad Bar, Marketside, O Organics, and Signature Farms, among others. They were distributed in 19 states and are marked with product codes Z324 to Z350 under the use-by date. The CDC is investigating 10 illnesses and one death linked to the products.

Alexander & Hornung ham
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Risk: Listeria

Michigan-based Alexander & Hornung recalled more than 2.3 million pounds of pork products in December because of possible Listeria contamination. Originally, over 230,000 pounds were included in the recall, but the USDA expanded it tenfold. The fully cooked items were sold at retailers nationwide and include hams, ham steaks, and pepperoni sold under several brand names including Wellshire, Butcher Boy, Garrett Valley Farms, Food Club, Niman Ranch, Open Nature, Big Y, and Five Star, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Affected products have establishment number “EST. M10125” inside the USDA inspection mark. Some of them have best-by dates well into 2022.

Kool-Aid Tropical Punch
Amazon

Risk: Metal and glass contamination

Kraft Heinz recalled two of its most popular powdered drink mixes, including some sold at Costco. Kool-Aid Tropical Punch and Country Time Lemonade powders may contain metal or glass fragments. The affected mixes were sold in 19-ounce and 82-ounce containers and on-the-go-sticks with best-by dates between June 13, 2023, and Oct. 3, 2023. According to a notice posted on Costco's website, the affected products sold in its stores had best-by dates of Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, 2023. Customers can call 855-713-9237 to determine if their product is part of the recall.

Trader Joe's Chili Lime Burgers
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Risk: Bone fragment contamination

Innovative Solutions announced Nov. 10 that it was recalling nearly 98,000 pounds of raw ground chicken patty products that may be contaminated with pieces of bone. At issue are packages of Trader Joe's Chile Lime Chicken Burgers, as well as Spinach Feta Chicken Sliders that were sold at other stores. The products, which were shipped nationwide, were produced from mid-August through the end of September 2021 and are marked with “EST. P-8276,” printed near the USDA mark of inspection.

Tastykake Cupcakes
U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Risk: Metal contamination 

Talk about a sweet treat potentially turning sour. Flowers Foods recalled certain batches of Tastykake cupcakes over fears that they may be contaminated by fragments of metal mesh wire. The affected cupcakes, with best-by dates ranging from Dec. 14 to Dec. 21, 2021, were distributed in seven states and Washington, D.C., at stores including Walmart and Target.

Aldi Simply Nature Organic Poppyseed Dressing
U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Risk: Botulism

Aldi is a great place to save on organics, but if you're a fan of its Simply Nature Organic Poppy Seed Dressing, take heed: Drew's Organics, which manufactures the dressing, has recalled several bottles over the potential for microbial growth, including the risk of a toxin that causes botulism, which can be fatal. The dressing was distributed to Aldi in 30 states between Aug. 20 and Sept. 10, 2021, and has a best-by date of Feb. 15, 2023.

Fratelli Beretta cured meats
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Risk: Salmonella

Fratelli Beretta, which makes Italian-style meats carried at Costco, recalled 862,000 pounds of uncured antipasto products including prosciutto, soppressata, salami, and coppa because of possible salmonella contamination linked to as many as 36 illnesses. The meats were sold in vacuum-sealed trays at Costco from February through August 2021 and have best-by dates as late as Feb. 11, 2022.

Sportsmix Dog Food
U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Risk: Aflatoxin

Humans aren’t the only ones at risk when foods are recalled. Midwestern Pet Foods recalled several kinds of dog and cat food at the end of 2020, and the FDA warned that those products could be linked to the deaths of 130 dogs, plus more than 200 illnesses. Aflatoxin, which is produced by mold, could be the culprit in at least some of the cases. The recall included NunnBetter, ProPac, Splash, Sportstrail, and Sportmix brands.

Raw frozen and peeled shrimp background. Pile of frozen shrimps  .Close-up of frozen shrimps. A lot of royal shrimp macro shot
bigtunaonline/istockphoto

Risk: Salmonella

If you've bought frozen shrimp recently (and even not-so-recently), check the label before you thaw them. Frozen shrimp from Avanti Frozen Foods were recalled in August 2021 and were distributed nationwide from November 2020 to May 2021. The number of affected brands is large and includes Whole Foods 365, Nature's Promise, Meijer, and Food Lion. The recall also affects tempura rolls sold at Target. At least nine illnesses have been reported so far.

KIRKWOOD Raw Stuffed CHICKEN, BROCCOLI & CHEESE
Instacart

Risk: Salmonella

Indiana-based Serenade Foods announced in August 2021 that it would recall about 60,000 pounds of frozen, raw, breaded, and stuffed chicken products that may be linked to a salmonella outbreak that sickened nearly 30 people. The poultry items — chicken cordon bleu and chicken with broccoli and cheese — were sold under the Dutch Farms Chicken, Milford Valley Chicken, and Kirkwood brands (the latter is sold exclusively at Aldi). Look for the establishment number P-2375 inside the USDA inspection mark.

Heap of various green herbs isolated on a white background.
JoKMedia/istockphoto

Risk: Salmonella

McCormick pulled three of the company's spices in mid-2021 for potential salmonella contamination: McCormick Perfect Pinch Italian Seasoning, McCormick Culinary Italian Seasoning and Frank's RedHot Buffalo Ranch Seasoning. The affected products were shipped to 32 states, Bermuda and Canada between June 20 and July 21. While no one has reported getting sick, McCormick is urging customers to toss out the spices (no need to return them to the store) and contact McCormick Consumer Affairs at 800-635-2867.

Muffins from 7-Eleven, Costco, and Walmart
©TripAdvisor

Risk: Listeria

Give & Go Prepared Foods Corp. announced in July 2021 that it was recalling muffins sold at retailers including Costco, Walmart, and 7-Eleven. The list of affected products includes muffins sold under the brands 7-Eleven Selects, The Worthy Crumb, Great Value, and Marketside.

Frozen chicken sticks breaded in the freezer in the store
jockermax/istockphoto

Risk: Listeria

Major poultry processor Tyson Foods announced a recall of some 8.5 million pounds of frozen cooked chicken items in July 2021. The products, including several varieties of boneless breasts and strips, were marketed under both the Tyson brand and several private labels and sold nationwide at grocery and fast-food chains including Publix, Walmart, and Wegmans, as well as Casey's General Stores and Little Caesars. A complete list of products being recalled can be found on the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.

Spice Hunter Spices
Amazon

Risk: Salmonella

Check your pantry: The Spice Hunter recalled several of its products in October 2020 because of salmonella concerns. Nearly 30 kinds of spices are at risk, including parsley, cinnamon, garlic, pepper, and paprika. They were distributed in more than 30 states and have best-by dates as early as August 2022.

5PH/ iStock
5PH/ iStock

Like Cheapism's content? Be sure to follow us.

Advertisement