FDA upgrades Utz brand potato chips recall to highest risk level over salmonella contamination

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration upgraded the recall of certain Zapp’s and Dirty brand potato chips made by Utz Quality Foods, LLC, to a Class I recall on June 24, 2026, affecting products sold nationwide. The FDA said the recall was elevated to the highest risk level after discovering the seasoning used on the chips contained dry milk powder potentially contaminated with salmonella.

The recall affects select Zapp’s and Dirty brand potato chips produced by Utz Quality Foods, LLC, and sold nationwide, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency’s upgrade to a Class I recall—the FDA’s highest risk level—reflects a reasonable probability that exposure to the products could cause serious adverse health consequences or death, officials said. Package sizes range from 1.5-ounce bags to 8-ounce bags, with affected products carrying best-by dates from July 27 through August 31, 2026, according to FDA documentation.

The recall involves more than 600,000 bags of chips, including Zapp’s Bayou Blackened Ranch, Salt and Vinegar, and Big Cheezy varieties, as well as Dirty brand Salt and Vinegar, Maui Onion, and Sour Cream and Onion potato chips.

The potential contamination stems from a seasoning ingredient containing dry milk powder supplied by California Dairies Inc. and distributed through a third-party vendor, sources confirmed. Utz initiated the voluntary recall on April 28, 2026, after being informed by the supplier that the milk powder might be tainted with salmonella. Although batches of seasoning tested negative for salmonella before use, the recall proceeded as a precaution following the supplier-level recall, according to company and FDA statements. The FDA published a recall notice on May 4, 2026, identifying the seasoning as the source of concern.

No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled products as of the latest FDA updates, but the agency emphasized that salmonella infection can cause serious or sometimes fatal infections, particularly in young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms of salmonella infection include fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea, according to FDA health guidance cited in reports.

The recall covers multiple flavors, sizes, and batch numbers, with detailed lists of affected products and codes available through the FDA’s recall notice and Utz’s consumer information materials. Consumers are advised not to eat the recalled chips and to discard any products they possess. Utz Customer Care can be contacted at 1-877-423-0149, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, for refunds or questions, according to company instructions. Retailers have been urged to remove recalled products from shelves to prevent further distribution.

The recall has been described in media reports as long-running, with varieties of Zapp’s and Dirty chips under recall since April 2026. The FDA’s elevation to a Class I recall on June 24, 2026, followed updated risk assessments based on the seasoning ingredient’s contamination potential. The agency’s classification signals the highest level of concern, indicating a reasonable probability that consumption of the affected products could result in serious health outcomes or death.

The recall does not include any other Utz products beyond the specified Zapp’s and Dirty brand potato chips. The company and FDA continue to monitor the situation closely, providing updated information as it becomes available. The public health response underscores the importance of ingredient-level recalls in preventing potential outbreaks, even when initial product testing does not detect contamination.