Frito-Lay, a division of the global food and beverage corporation PepsiCo, has announced a recall of its 13-ounce bags of Lay’s Classic Potato Chips. The recall was prompted by concerns that the product might contain undisclosed milk, a potential allergen that could cause severe or even fatal allergic reactions in individuals with a milk allergy or extreme sensitivity, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The FDA issued a warning on Monday, indicating that individuals with a milk allergy or severe sensitivity could experience a serious or potentially fatal allergic reaction if they consume the recalled product. The recall specifically targets bags of chips that were distributed to retailers in Oregon and Washington.
The chips in question have been on sale since at least November 3. To date, no allergic reactions related to the consumption of the recalled product have been reported, the FDA confirmed. The agency also disclosed that the recalled product bears the UPC codes 28400 and 31041, and has a “guaranteed fresh” date of February 11, 2025. The manufacturing codes on the affected products are either 6462307xx or 6463307xx.
Customers who have purchased the recalled product are encouraged to reach out to Frito-Lay directly at 1-800-352-4477. PepsiCo, Frito-Lay’s parent company, has not yet issued a statement on the recall.
This recall is the most recent in a series of food safety incidents that have heightened consumer concerns. A recent E. coli outbreak linked to onions used in McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers resulted in one fatality and 104 illnesses across 14 states.
In a separate incident, cucumbers supplied by Arizona-based SunFed Produce were recalled across 26 states and Canada due to a suspected salmonella outbreak. Around the same time, a frozen food company expanded a recall of its waffles and pancakes sold at major US supermarkets, including Walmart, Kroger, and Whole Foods, due to potential listeria contamination.
In total, there have been over 740 food and beverage recalls this year, more than double the number reported in 2023 and nearly triple the total from 2022.