Hundreds of thousands of bags of Zapp’s and Dirty brand potato chips are now under the FDA’s most serious recall classification due to possible Salmonella contamination.
Utz Quality Foods, which produces both brands, originally pulled the affected products in May after discovering that seasoning used on the chips contained a dry milk powder ingredient potentially carrying traces of Salmonella. The FDA has since escalated the action to a Class I recall — the agency’s highest risk designation — meaning regulators have determined there is a reasonable probability that consuming the product could result in serious health consequences or death. No illnesses or fatalities linked to the chips have been reported.
Which Products Are Affected
The recall does not cover every product sold under either brand. The following specific items are included in the Class I classification:
• 1.5oz Zapp’s Bayou Blackened Ranch Kettle Chips (164,640 bags)
• 2.5oz and 8oz Zapp’s Bayou Blackened Ranch Potato Chips (179,837 bags)
• 1.5oz and 2oz Dirty Brand Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips (300,395 bags)
• 2.0oz Dirty Maui Onion Chip (5,000 bags)
• 1.5oz and 8.0oz Zapp’s Big Cheezy Potato Chips (14,976 bags)
• 2.0oz Dirty Sour Cream and Onion Potato Chips (19,200 bags)
Utz said at the time of the initial recall that the action was taken as a precaution, noting that the seasoning batches had tested negative for Salmonella before being used in production.
What Consumers Should Know
Salmonella is a bacterial infection that can produce symptoms including diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, typically appearing between 8 and 72 hours after exposure, according to the Mayo Clinic. In rare cases the infection can be fatal. Anyone who has any of the recalled bags at home is strongly encouraged to discard them immediately, regardless of whether the seasoning batches initially cleared testing.
Consumers can check the FDA’s official website for full product details and lot information as the agency continues to monitor the recall.
