Over 650,000 bags of Zapp’s and Dirty brand potato chips are now subject to the FDA’s most serious recall classification following salmonella concerns.
The recall was initially announced on May 4 by Utz Quality Foods, covering select varieties of both snack brands sold across the United States.
The FDA upgraded the recall to a Class I designation on June 24, representing the agency’s highest level of concern for consumer safety.
A Class I recall means there is “a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death,” according to the FDA.
Utz Quality Foods said a seasoning ingredient containing dry milk powder, supplied by a third party, may have been contaminated with salmonella bacteria.
The company noted that seasoning batches tested negative before being used in production, and the recall was initiated “out of an abundance of caution.”
At the time the recall was first announced in May, no illnesses had been reported in connection with the affected products.
The recalled Zapp’s varieties include Bayou Blackened Ranch, Salt and Vinegar, and Big Cheezy chips in multiple bag sizes, while Dirty brand Salt and Vinegar, Maui Onion, and Sour Cream and Onion flavors are also affected.
Affected products were sold at retailers nationwide and carry “Best By” dates ranging from August 3, 2026, through August 31, 2026.
Salmonella can cause serious or even fatal infections in young children, elderly individuals, and people with weakened immune systems, with symptoms including diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, and dehydration.
The recall upgrade arrives as many Americans are purchasing snacks and supplies ahead of Independence Day cookouts and summer gatherings.
Consumers who find any of the recalled products are urged not to eat them, to discard them immediately, and to thoroughly wash any surface the chips may have touched.
