Utz Quality Foods is recalling specific Zapp’s and Dirty brand potato chips sold in the United States after a seasoning ingredient containing dry milk powder was flagged for possible Salmonella contamination.
The recall was first announced by the Hanover, Pennsylvania-based company in May 2026 and later assigned the Food and Drug Administration’s highest risk category, Class I, according to an FDA enforcement report cited by ABC News.
Key Facts In The Recall
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The recalled products include limited varieties and package sizes of 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 potato chips. Utz said the products were available at retail stores nationwide and that no other Utz Quality Foods products are included in the recall.
The company said the recall followed notification that a seasoning containing dry milk powder, sourced from California Dairies, Inc. and supplied through a third-party supplier, may contain Salmonella.
Utz said the affected seasoning batches tested negative for Salmonella before use, but the company initiated the recall as a precaution based on the ingredient supplier’s recall.
The products listed by Utz carry best-by dates ranging from July 27, 2026, to August 31, 2026, depending on the flavor, size and batch code.
Among the affected items are 1.5-ounce, 2.5-ounce and 8-ounce bags of Zapp’s Bayou Blackened Ranch, 2-ounce bags of Dirty Salt and Vinegar, 1.5-ounce 60-count Zapp’s Salt and Vinegar, 2-ounce Dirty Maui Onion, 2.5-ounce and 8-ounce Zapp’s Big Cheezy, and 2-ounce Dirty Sour Cream and Onion.
Latest Verified Update
The latest verified development is the FDA’s Class I classification for the recall. The agency defines a Class I recall as one in which there is a reasonable probability that use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
The FDA’s original public recall notice was published on May 4, 2026, while Utz’s company notice is dated May 5, 2026. The FDA recall page said the notice was “content current” as of May 4.
Utz said at the time of the recall announcement that it had received no complaints of illness connected to the recalled products. ABC News also cited the same company statement in its June 26 update.
Why The Warning Matters
Salmonella is a foodborne pathogen that can cause diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms usually begin six hours to six days after infection and typically last four to seven days.
The health risk is higher for young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. CDC guidance identifies children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and immunocompromised people among groups more likely to become seriously ill from Salmonella infection.
The recall also matters because the products are shelf-stable snack foods with best-by dates extending into late summer 2026. That means affected bags may still be in homes, vending inventories, convenience stores or pantry supplies even weeks after the original announcement. Utz has instructed retailers to check shelves and inventories to make sure recalled products are not available for sale.
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers should not eat the recalled Zapp’s or Dirty potato chips if the product, size, UPC, best-by date and batch code match the recall list. Utz said consumers should discard the affected products and contact Utz Customer Care for questions or refunds at 1-877-423-0149, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, or by email at customerservice@utzsnacks.com.
People who develop severe symptoms after eating a recalled product should seek medical advice. CDC says medical attention is recommended for bloody diarrhea, diarrhea or vomiting lasting more than two days, fever above 102°F, signs of dehydration or possible long-term complications.
For now, the central confirmed facts are limited: the recall is voluntary, the trigger was a supplier-linked Salmonella concern involving a dry milk powder ingredient, the finished seasoning batches tested negative before use, and Utz said no illness complaints had been reported in connection with the chips. The Class I designation raises the public-safety urgency, but it does not by itself confirm that consumers became sick from the products.
