FDA Potato Chip Recall in U.S. Triggers Salmonella Warning for Zapp’s and Dirty Bags

A nationwide potato chip recall is affecting select Zapp’s and Dirty brand products after Utz Quality Foods warned that a seasoning ingredient used in several flavors may have been exposed to salmonella. The recall, posted by the FDA on May 4, 2026, applies only to specific sizes, flavors, best-by dates and batch codes, with no illnesses linked to the products so far.

What Products Are Included in the Recall

The recall covers limited varieties of seasoned potato chips sold under the Zapp’s and Dirty labels. The affected products include Zapp’s Bayou Blackened Ranch, Zapp’s Salt and Vinegar, Zapp’s Big Cheezy, Dirty Salt and Vinegar, Dirty Maui Onion, and Dirty Sour Cream and Onion.

The recalled bags were distributed to retail stores nationwide. Consumers should check the package size, UPC, best-by date and batch code before discarding a product, because the recall does not apply to every Zapp’s, Dirty or Utz snack.

Best-by dates listed in the recall run from late July 2026 through August 31, 2026, depending on the product. The affected package sizes include single-serve bags, 2-ounce bags, 2.5-ounce bags, 8-ounce bags and a 60-count Zapp’s Salt and Vinegar case.

Why Utz Issued the Potato Chip Recall

The recall was initiated after Utz was notified that a seasoning containing dry milk powder could potentially contain salmonella. The dry milk powder came from California Dairies, Inc. and reached Utz through a third-party supplier.

Utz said the affected seasoning batches tested negative for salmonella before being used. Even so, the company moved forward with the product recall as a precaution because the ingredient supplier had identified a possible contamination risk.

That distinction matters for consumers: this is not a confirmed outbreak tied to the chips. It is a preventive recall involving products that may have used a suspect ingredient. No consumer illness complaints had been reported to Utz in connection with the recalled bags at the time of the announcement.

What Consumers Should Do Now

Anyone who has one of the affected bags should not eat it. The company is advising consumers to throw away recalled products and contact Utz Customer Care for refund information.

Retailers have also been told to check shelves and inventory so the recalled products are not available for sale. Because potato chips often sit in pantries for weeks or months, consumers should look beyond recently purchased bags and check any stored snacks with July or August 2026 best-by dates.

The recall is limited to the specific products named in the announcement. Other Utz Quality Foods products are not included, and the company has not expanded the recall beyond the listed Zapp’s and Dirty varieties.

Salmonella Risk and Symptoms

Salmonella can cause foodborne illness, especially in young children, older adults, pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems. Healthy adults can also become sick after exposure.

Common symptoms include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In some cases, diarrhea may be bloody. Severe infections can spread beyond the digestive system and lead to more serious complications that require medical care.

Symptoms often begin within hours to a few days after exposure. Anyone who ate a recalled product and develops severe diarrhea, persistent fever, dehydration, bloody stool or worsening symptoms should seek medical guidance promptly.

Why This Recall Is Getting National Attention

The FDA potato chip recall has drawn broad attention because the products are familiar snack brands and were available nationwide. Zapp’s, known for bold Louisiana-style flavors, and Dirty, another kettle-style chip brand, are both part of the Utz portfolio.

The recall also comes at a time when food safety alerts involving supplier ingredients can affect multiple consumer products. A single ingredient, such as dry milk powder used in seasoning blends, can move through several supply chains before appearing in finished foods. That makes traceability, batch coding and retailer response central to limiting potential exposure.

For shoppers, the key point is specificity. This is not a blanket recall of all potato chips, all Utz snacks or all Zapp’s products. It is a targeted action tied to certain flavors, package sizes and production batches.

What Happens Next

Utz and retailers are expected to continue removing the affected products from sale while consumers check packages at home. The FDA notice remains the central reference point for identifying recalled items by batch code and best-by date.

Because no illnesses had been reported when the recall was posted, the immediate focus is prevention rather than outbreak response. Any change in illness reports, product scope or affected batches would mark the next major development in the recall.