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Utz Quality Foods announced a voluntary recall of nine varieties of potato chips from the Zapp's and Dirty brands due to a possible salmonella contamination, as stated in a statement released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The company (now part of Utz Brands), a producer of potato chips, pretzels, and other snacks, discovered that the seasoning used in the production of the products contains dry milk powder that could be contaminated with bacteria.
The milk was supplied by California Dairies, Inc. - the largest dairy cooperative owned by producers in that state - through a third-party provider.
Utz clarified that the specific batches of the seasoning used in the chips tested negative for salmonella prior to use, but decided to proceed with the recall "as a precaution."
The order includes withdrawing the limited varieties of potato chips from the brands Zapp's and Dirty. The affected products are:
Zapp's Bayou Blackened Ranch in 1.5, 2.5, and eight-ounce packages
Zapp's Salt and Vinegar 1.5-ounce
Zapp's Big Cheezy in 2.5 and eight-ounce packages
Dirty Salt and Vinegar two ounces
Dirty Maui Onion two ounces
Dirty Sour Cream and Onion two-ounce.
Their expiration dates mainly extend until August 2026.
These products were sold in major supermarket chains such as Walmart, Target, Publix, and Kroger, as well as in restaurants nationwide.
The FDA warns consumers not to consume the mentioned snacks and to dispose of them immediately. Retailers, for their part, should check their inventory and shelves to ensure that none of these products are available for sale.
"To date, Utz has not received any complaints regarding illnesses related to the recalled products. Utz is recalling these products at the request of the ingredient supplier," the statement released by the government clarifies.
Utz's recall is part of a larger chain of alerts triggered by the same contaminated powdered milk from California Dairies, Inc. On April 28, Ghirardelli Chocolate Company recalled powdered drink mixes for the same reason.
On May 1, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued public health alerts for frozen pizzas from the brands Great Value (Walmart), Mama Cozzi's (Aldi), and Culinary Circle, as well as pork rinds from the brand Pork King Good.
Last Tuesday, John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. also recalled snack mix products for the same reason. Authorities have warned that more affected products could be identified.
This type of withdrawal is not uncommon in the U.S. market.
In December 2025, more than a million bags of shredded cheese were recalled due to possible contamination, and in August of that same year Walmart recalled a brand of frozen shrimp in Florida. In May 2025, cucumbers in Florida caused hospitalizations due to salmonella, and in 2018 Kellogg's recalled several types of cereal due to possible cases of the same bacteria.
Salmonella can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, with symptoms appearing between six and 72 hours after ingestion. The highest risk groups are young children, elderly individuals, and people with weakened immune systems.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 1.35 million annual cases of salmonellosis in the United States, resulting in 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths each year.
Consumers who wish to obtain more information about the recall can contact Utz customer service at 1-877-423-0149. The company specified that "this recall is limited exclusively to the listed products and no other products manufactured by Utz Quality Foods are included in it."
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