If you are travelling to the United States for business, attending a logistics conference, or transiting through a US hub, a food safety alert issued this week is worth your attention.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed a voluntary recall of multiple varieties of popular potato chips sold under the Zapp’s and Dirty brands, citing potential Salmonella contamination from a seasoning ingredient.
The recall, announced on 4 May 2026, affects snack products distributed at retail stores across the United States.
For African business travellers, logistics executives, and freight professionals who frequently transit through US airports or attend trade events stateside, these are commonly stocked snacks in airport shops, hotel lobbies, and conference venues.
What Triggered the Recall
Utz Quality Foods, LLC — a subsidiary of Utz Brands, Inc., headquartered in Hanover, Pennsylvania — initiated the recall after its ingredient supplier notified the company that a seasoning containing dry milk powder, sourced from California Dairies, Inc., may be contaminated with Salmonella.
Notably, the affected seasoning batches tested negative for Salmonella prior to use, but the company acted out of an abundance of caution following the supplier’s own recall.
As of the time of publication, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled products.
Why Salmonella Is a Serious Health Risk
Salmonella is a bacterial organism that causes foodborne illness. Healthy individuals may experience fever, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps.
However, the FDA warns that young children, elderly travellers, and people with weakened immune systems face the risk of serious or even fatal infections.
In severe cases, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause conditions such as endocarditis or arterial infections.
For travellers arriving from Africa who may already be managing jet lag, dietary adjustments, or health sensitivities, consuming contaminated snacks presents an unnecessary and avoidable risk.
Which Products Are Affected
The recall covers nine specific product variants across the Zapp’s and Dirty brands, in various pack sizes. These include:
- Zapp’s Bayou Blackened Ranch Potato Chips (1.5oz, 2.5oz, 8oz)
- Zapp’s Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips (1.5oz, 60-count)
- Zapp’s Big Cheezy Potato Chips (2.5oz, 8oz)
- Dirty Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips (2oz)
- Dirty Maui Onion Potato Chips (2oz)
- Dirty Sour Cream and Onion Potato Chips (2oz)
All recalled products have Best By dates ranging from late July through the end of August 2026, with specific batch codes listed in the FDA’s official notice. These products are available at retail stores nationwide across the US.
What Travellers Should Do
The FDA advises consumers who have purchased any of these products to stop consuming them immediately and discard them.
Do not attempt to return them for consumption. If you are already in the US and have purchased any Zapp’s or Dirty branded chips recently, check the packaging against the full batch code list published by the FDA.
For refunds or queries, Utz Customer Care can be contacted at 1-877-423-0149, Monday to Friday, between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm Eastern Time.
A Note for Logistics and Supply Chain Professionals
This recall illustrates a familiar challenge in modern food supply chains: ingredient-level contamination risks that bypass product-level testing.
The dry milk powder at the centre of this recall passed pre-use testing but was later flagged by the ingredient supplier’s own quality process — a reminder that supply chain traceability is as critical in food logistics as it is in industrial or freight operations.
For logistics and procurement professionals operating across Africa and the US corridor, this incident also underlines the importance of monitoring FDA recall databases as part of compliance and import/export due diligence, particularly for companies involved in food and beverage freight.
Verify the Full Recall Details
The full list of affected batch codes and UPC numbers is available directly on the FDA’s official recall page: FDA Utz Recall Notice.
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