The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has upgraded a voluntary recall of certain Zapp's and Dirty brand potato chips to its highest risk level, citing a "reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death." The recall, initially issued in May by Utz Quality Foods, LLC, now affects over 684,000 bags of chips due to concerns that a seasoning containing dry milk powder may be contaminated with Salmonella.
The affected dry milk powder was sourced from California Dairies, Inc. and supplied by an unspecified third-party vendor. Utz stated that the seasoning batches tested negative for the bacteria prior to use, but the company initiated the recall out of an abundance of caution. The products were distributed to retail stores in nearly three dozen states.
This Class I recall, the most serious designation, includes specific sizes and flavors of Zapp's Bayou Blackened Ranch Kettle Chips, Zapp's Bayou Blackened Ranch Potato Chips, Dirty Brand Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips, Dirty Maui Onion Chips, Zapp's Big Cheezy Potato Chips, and Dirty Sour Cream and Onion Potato Chips.
Salmonella is a significant public health concern in the U.S., with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating it infects 1.35 million people annually, leading to 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths. Symptoms of Salmonella infection typically appear eight to 72 hours after exposure and can include diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, nausea, and vomiting. While most individuals recover within a week without treatment, infants, young children, pregnant women, and older adults are at higher risk for severe illness due to weakened immune systems. In severe cases, the infection can spread to other organs and lead to complications such as sepsis, a potentially fatal condition.
Health officials urge consumers who have purchased the affected products not to consume them and to discard them immediately. Anyone experiencing symptoms of Salmonella infection is advised to contact a healthcare provider and report the illness to their state health department.