FDA Recall Alert: Ghirardelli, Zapp’s and Giant Eagle Products Pulled Over Salmonella Risk

A recall tied to a single dry milk ingredient has now reached several well-known food brands, putting everything from cocoa mixes and potato chips to snack mixes and pita chips under consumer scrutiny.

The recall chain began after California Dairies Inc. pulled bulk powdered milk and buttermilk products in April over a possible salmonella contamination risk. The recalled dairy ingredients were supplied to multiple food manufacturers and wholesale distributors, where they were later used in finished products sold under different brand names.

That is why shoppers are now seeing recalls across unrelated grocery aisles. The same powdered milk ingredient can be used in cheese-flavored coatings, snack seasonings, popcorn flavor blends, powdered beverage mixes and shelf-stable snacks. Once a supplier issue is found, every brand that used the ingredient has to trace where it went.

As of May 9, the recalls linked to the California Dairies ingredient include:

• Ghirardelli — powdered beverage mixes
• Zapp’s — select potato chips
• Dirty — select potato chips
• Giant Eagle — baked pita chips
• Stoltzfus Family Dairy — flavored cheese curds
• Wildlife Seasoning — flavored popcorn seasoning
• Fisher — snack mixes
• Southern Style Nuts — snack mixes
• Squirrel Brand — snack mixes
• Good & Gather — snack mixes
• Pork King Good — seasoning bottles and pork rinds

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Ghirardelli Chocolate Company recalled certain powdered beverage mixes because they may have been contaminated with salmonella. The FDA notice said the action followed a California Dairies milk powder recall connected to a potential contamination concern.

Utz Quality Foods also issued a voluntary recall for limited varieties of Zapp’s and Dirty brand potato chips after the company was notified that seasoning containing dry milk powder sourced from California Dairies may have been affected. According to the FDA notice, the seasoning batches tested negative before use, but the recall was still issued out of caution.

Swikblog has also covered the related potato chip recall in detail here: Potato Chips Recall: Utz Zapp’s and Dirty Brands Pulled Nationwide Over Salmonella.

John B. Sanfilippo & Son recalled snack mix products sold under Fisher, Southern Style Nuts, Squirrel Brand and Good & Gather after seasoning used in those products was found to contain the recalled dry milk powder. The company said the recall followed the California Dairies recall and involved products flavored with seasoning made by a third-party supplier.

Why one ingredient caused so many recalls

Large food recalls often spread because manufacturers use shared ingredients from the same supplier. Dry milk powder is especially common because it improves flavor, texture and shelf life without adding liquid. It can be used in cheese powders, ranch-style seasonings, cocoa mixes, snack coatings, bakery blends and powdered drink products.

That supply chain link is what makes this recall wider than a single brand problem. A consumer may see Ghirardelli hot cocoa, Zapp’s chips and Giant Eagle pita chips as completely different products, but they can still be connected by one ingredient used deep inside the manufacturing process.

This also explains why the recall list may continue to change. If more companies discover they used the recalled California Dairies ingredient, additional products could be removed from stores or flagged for consumers.

The FDA maintains a public recall database where consumers can check updated notices, product photos, lot codes and package details. That information is important because recalls usually do not apply to every item sold under a brand. In many cases, only specific flavors, sizes, date codes or production lots are affected.

Consumers should not rely only on the brand name. They should compare the product name, package size, UPC, lot code and best-by date with the official recall notice before deciding whether an item is affected.

What salmonella can do

Salmonella is a group of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that salmonella causes about 1.35 million infections in the United States each year, and contaminated food is one of the most common sources.

Symptoms usually appear between eight and 72 hours after exposure. Common symptoms include diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps and dehydration. Illness can last four to seven days, and many people recover without medical treatment.

Some groups face a higher risk of severe illness. Children under 5, older adults, pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems should be especially careful if they may have eaten a recalled product or develop symptoms after eating one.

Health officials advise consumers not to eat any recalled product. Affected items should be thrown away securely or returned to the store for a refund, depending on the company’s instructions. Surfaces, containers or hands that may have touched the product should also be washed thoroughly.

The recall is also a reminder that shelf-stable pantry foods should not be ignored during food safety alerts. Chips, cocoa mixes, seasonings and snack mixes can remain in homes for weeks or months after purchase, even after stores have removed recalled products from shelves.

Shoppers following this dry milk powder recall may also want to read Swikblog’s related coverage of the Aldi frozen pizzas salmonella health alert, which involved another product category affected by recalled dry milk powder.

For now, the safest step is simple: check pantry products against official recall notices, do not eat anything that matches the affected product details, and seek medical advice if symptoms become severe or appear after consuming a recalled food.

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