FDA Upgrades Zapp’s Potato Chip Recall to Highest Risk Level

LOUISIANA - If you've got a bag of Zapp's or Dirty potato chips sitting in your pantry, now is a good time to take a closer look.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has officially upgraded an ongoing potato chip recall to a Class I recall, the agency's most serious designation. The recall affects hundreds of thousands of bags sold across Louisiana and the United States because of a potential Salmonella contamination risk.

While no illnesses have been reported, health officials say consumers should not eat the affected products.

Why The FDA Upgraded The Recall

The recall was originally announced by Utz Quality Foods in early May of 2026 after the company learned that a seasoning ingredient supplied by a third-party vendor could have contained Salmonella.

The ingredient included dry milk powder that had been recalled by the supplier. Even though Utz says the seasoning batches used on the recalled chips tested negative before production, the company voluntarily recalled the products out of an abundance of caution.

According to ABCNews.com, the FDA has now classified the recall as Class I, meaning there's a reasonable probability that consuming the product could cause serious health risks or even death in some cases.

Zapp's Potato Chip FDA Recall

Which Potato Chips Are Being Recalled?

The recall impacts select bags of Zapp's and Dirty brand potato chips with certain UPC codes, batch numbers and best-by dates.

The complete list of UPC codes and best-by dates of the products included in the recall can be found over at utzsnacks.com.

Affected flavors include:

Zapp's Bayou Blackened Ranch
Zapp's Big Cheezy
Dirty Salt & Vinegar
Dirty Maui Onion
Dirty Sour Cream & Onion

Nearly 685,000 bags are included in the recall. The chips were distributed to retailers nationwide.

What Should You Do If You Have These Chips?

If you find one of the recalled products in your pantry, the FDA recommends not eating it.

You are urged to throw the chips away or contact Utz Customer Care for refund information. Retailers have also been instructed to remove the affected products from store shelves.

From ABCNews.com -

Consumers with questions about the recall or refunds for purchased recalled products can call the Utz Customer Care team at 1-877-423-0149, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, or by email at customerservice@utzsnacks.com

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For anyone who enjoys grabbing a bag of Zapp's or Dirty chips, it's worth taking a minute to check the packaging before your next snack. A quick look at the best-by date and product information could save you from an unnecessary health risk.