Utz Quality Foods has issued an immediate nationwide recall of selected Zapp’s and Dirty brand potato chips over fears they may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. The recall, announced on 4 May 2026, covers a range of flavours and pack sizes distributed across the United States.
The company launched the voluntary recall after learning that a seasoning ingredient used on the chips – dry milk powder supplied by California Dairies, Inc. – could be contaminated, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed on Monday. Utz said the affected seasoning batches had tested negative for Salmonella before use but decided to act “out of an abundance of caution” following its ingredient supplier’s own recall. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the chips to date.
The dry milk powder at the centre of the alert was supplied by a third-party supplier, California Dairies, Inc., which also supplied milk powder used in Ghirardelli chocolate drinks recalled roughly a week earlier. Utz Quality Foods, a subsidiary of Utz Brands, Inc., stressed that no other products in its range are affected.
Affected products
Recalled items carry specific UPC codes and best‑by dates. Consumers should check their cupboards for the following packs:
Zapp’s® Bayou Blackened Ranch Potato Chips
1.5 oz (UPC 83791272917) – Best by: August 3, 10, 17, 24, 2026. Codes: 26030070101, 26036070102, 26043070101, 26052070103.
2.5 oz (UPC 83791272924) – Best by: August 3, 17, 31, 2026. Codes: 26029070104, 26044070104, 26045070104, 26058070104.
8 oz (UPC 83791272931) – Best by: July 27, August 3, 10, 17, 2026. Codes: 26024070105, 26024070104, 26029070104, 26030070104, 26037070105, 26038070105, 26044070105, 26045070105.
Zapp’s® Big Cheezy Potato Chips
2.5 oz (UPC 83791192208) – Best by: August 31, 2026. Code: 26058070104.
8 oz (UPC 83791192246) – Best by: August 31, 2026. Codes: 26058070104, 26059070104.
Zapp’s® Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips
1.5 oz (60‑count) (UPC 83791010144) – Best by: August 3, 10, 2026. Codes: 26030070101, 26031070101, 26036070102, 26037070102.
Dirty® Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips
2 oz (UPC 83791520148) – Best by: August 3, 10, 2026. Codes: 26030070104, 26031070104, 26031070101, 26038070102, 26038070103.
Dirty® Maui Onion Potato Chips
2 oz (UPC 83791520162) – Best by: August 8, 2026. Code: 26052070103.
Dirty® Sour Cream and Onion Potato Chips
2 oz (UPC 83791520094) – Best by: August 31, 2026. Code: 26059070104.
Consumer advice
The FDA advises anyone who has bought these chips not to eat them. Consumers should either throw the products away or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Retailers have been instructed to remove the affected items from shelves immediately. For questions or refund requests, Utz’s customer care team can be contacted by email at [email protected] or by phone on 1-877-423-0149, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time.
The recall is one of the few involving Utz products. In January 2024 the company recalled around 1,200 single‑serve bags of Utz Wavy Original Potato Chips because of an undeclared milk allergen.
Salmonella – symptoms and risks
Salmonella is a bacterium that lives in the gut of many animals and birds and is shed in faeces, contaminating food and water. In healthy individuals, infection typically causes fever, diarrhoea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Symptoms usually appear between six hours and three days after exposure and can last from three to seven days, although some people take weeks to recover fully.
The infection can be serious, and sometimes fatal, especially for vulnerable groups: young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems owing to chronic illness, cancer, diabetes, liver or kidney disease, or medical treatment. In rare cases, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause severe complications such as arterial infections – including infected aneurysms – endocarditis, and reactive arthritis. Dehydration from severe diarrhoea and vomiting can become life‑threatening.
Salmonella spreads through consumption of contaminated food or drink – for example, raw or undercooked eggs, unpasteurised milk, and meats, particularly poultry – as well as through poor hand hygiene after handling animals or using the toilet, and contact with infected pets such as reptiles, dogs and cats. Cross‑contamination in the kitchen is also a common route of infection. Preventative measures include thorough handwashing, cooking food to a safe internal temperature, and avoiding cross‑contamination between raw and ready‑to‑eat items.
Although this recall is confined to the United States, Salmonella is a significant foodborne illness concern worldwide, including in the UK. The Food Standards Agency in Britain provides extensive guidance on food safety and Salmonella. Any UK consumers who may have purchased these products through international channels are advised to follow the same steps: do not eat them, dispose of them or return them for a refund.
The FDA posts company recall announcements as a public service and has the authority to order mandatory recalls if a company does not act voluntarily. The Utz recall, conducted with the FDA’s knowledge, was triggered by the ingredient supplier’s own recall – the same California Dairies milk powder that led to the earlier Ghirardelli chocolate drink recall. Utz has stressed that its own pre‑use testing returned negative results for Salmonella, but the company said it is not taking any chances with consumer safety.