FDA Issues Class I Recall for Tostitos

FDA Issues Class I Recall for Tostitos

Frito-Lay has announced a voluntary recall of select bags of its Tostitos Cantina Traditional Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips, following concerns over potential contamination with nacho cheese-flavored chips, which could pose a serious risk to individuals with milk allergies.

Why the Recall Was Issued

According to a notice distributed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), certain 13-ounce bags of Tostitos Cantina Traditional Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips may unintentionally contain nacho cheese-flavored chips, an ingredient that contains milk—a major food allergen. This poses a health threat to individuals with milk allergies or sensitivities, as milk was not listed as an ingredient on the packaging.

While the product remains safe for consumption for those without milk allergies, Frito-Lay and the FDA are urging affected consumers with dairy sensitivities to avoid eating the chips. No allergic reactions or related illnesses have been reported so far.

FDA Classifies Recall as Class I Risk

The FDA has classified this recall as a Class I, the most serious level, indicating "a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death." Milk is one of the most common food allergens in the U.S., affecting an estimated 6.2 million people, including both children and adults.

Symptoms of a milk allergy can range from mild reactions like hives and abdominal discomfort to severe cases such as anaphylaxis—a potentially life-threatening condition involving throat swelling, difficulty breathing, and sudden drop in blood pressure.

Which Products Are Affected

This recall affects 1,295 bags of the 13-ounce Tostitos Cantina Traditional Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips. The impacted products can be identified by the UPC code 28400 52848, a Guaranteed Fresh date of May 20, 2025, and one of the following manufacturing codes, where “XX” refers to times between 30 and 55 minutes:

• 471106504 18 13:XX
• 471106505 85 13:XX
• 471106506 85 13:XX
• 471106507 85 13:XX

Where the Chips Were Sold

The recalled chips were sold online and at various retail locations—including grocery, drug, and convenience stores—across 13 states:
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Sales began as early as March 7, and the recall was officially initiated on March 26, 2025, with the public announcement following on March 27.

Frito-Lay’s Statement

In a public statement, Frito-Lay emphasized that the issue affects only a limited number of bags and does not extend to any other Tostitos flavors, products, sizes, or variety packs. "Unless a consumer has a dairy allergy or sensitivity to milk, this product is safe to consume," the company stated.

Consumers with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact Frito-Lay at 1-800-352-4477 during business hours (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time) or visit the Frito-Lay Contact Us page to review the full recall notice and check if their product is affected.

What Consumers Should Do

Anyone who purchased the affected product and has a milk allergy or sensitivity should not consume the chips and instead dispose of them immediately. Keeping even a small amount could pose a risk of accidental consumption or cross-contamination.