Consumers across the United States are being urged to double-check their pantries and lunchboxes after a sweeping recall of single-serve peanut butter and peanut butter-and-jelly snack packs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently classified this recall, impacting more than 22,000 cases of products manufactured by Ventura Foods LLC, as a Class II recall—a designation that, while less urgent than a Class I, still means the items could cause temporary or medically reversible health issues. The culprit? Fragments of blue plastic discovered during the production process, raising concerns about potential physical harm to consumers, especially children and those in institutional settings.
According to the FDA and widely reported by outlets like PEOPLE and The Economic Times, the recall was first initiated in April 2025, when Ventura Foods staff discovered the plastic pieces in a production filter. Although the recall was launched months ago, it wasn’t until February 12, 2026, that the FDA officially upgraded it to a Class II status, reflecting ongoing monitoring and the seriousness of the contamination. The agency has not indicated when the recall might be lifted, stressing that efforts to remove the affected products from circulation are still underway.
The scope of the recall is substantial. Products were distributed under a variety of brand names—including Flavor Fresh, House Recipe by Sysco, Katy’s Kitchen, Dyma Brands, Gordon Food Service, and US Foods—and shipped to 40 states across the country. Among the affected states are Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. That’s nearly the entire nation, with products reaching schools, hospitals, cafeterias, and other institutional food-service settings where single-serve options are popular for their convenience and portion control.
The items included in the recall span a range of portion sizes: 0.5-ounce, 0.75-ounce, and 1.12-ounce creamy peanut butter packs, as well as 2.12-ounce peanut butter-and-jelly twin packs. Some specific products named in the recall are Flavor Fresh Peanut Butter (21g), House Recipe Creamy Peanut Butter (21.2g), Katy’s Kitchen Smooth Peanut Butter (21g), Creamy Peanut Butter Poco Pac (32g), and Creamy Peanut Butter (21g) distributed by US Foods, among others. The FDA has published a comprehensive list of affected lot numbers on its official recall notice, and consumers are advised to consult it carefully before consuming any single-serve peanut butter items.
Ventura Foods LLC, the company at the heart of the recall, emphasized in statements to PEOPLE that they acted swiftly and with transparency. “Ten months ago, DYMA Brands initiated a voluntary recall on various single-use peanut butter products due to the potential presence of a foreign material (plastic),” a company spokesperson said. They added, “At the time the recall was initiated ... we acted with urgency to remove all potentially impacted product from the marketplace. This includes urging our customers, their distributors and retailers to immediately review their inventory, segregate and stop the further sale and distribution of any products subject to the recall. Protecting consumers remains our top priority, and we will continue to act swiftly and transparently as the FDA review progresses.”
For those unfamiliar with the FDA’s recall system, a Class II recall is not the most severe (that’s Class I, which signals a strong likelihood of serious health consequences or death), but it’s no small matter either. The FDA explains that Class II means use of or exposure to the product “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.” In this case, the main risks come from the presence of plastic fragments, which could cause mouth or throat injuries, choking hazards—particularly for children—or discomfort if swallowed. The FDA, however, reassures that the probability of serious long-term harm is considered low. So far, no illnesses or injuries have been reported in connection with the recall, but the agency and the company continue to monitor the situation closely.
Why such a broad recall for what might seem like a small issue? Food safety regulators take foreign-material contamination very seriously, regardless of the substance. Even a tiny shard of plastic in a food product can present a choking hazard or cause injury to the digestive tract. The risk is amplified in institutional settings such as schools, where young children are more vulnerable. That’s why the FDA and Ventura Foods moved quickly to get the word out and remove affected items from distribution channels, even though the products weren’t typically sold in standard grocery store jars but rather in institutional portion packs.
Consumers who may have received single-serve peanut butter products through school lunches, hospital meals, or workplace cafeterias are being encouraged to check with their providers to determine whether any of the recalled items were served. Parents concerned about their children’s school meals should reach out to cafeteria managers or district food-service coordinators. The FDA’s recall database remains the best resource for up-to-date information on affected products and lot numbers.
This peanut butter recall isn’t the only food safety issue making headlines. In a related wave of recalls, the FDA also flagged a single lot of Initiative Foods’ Tippy Toes brand Apple Pear Banana Fruit baby food puree due to elevated levels of patulin, a toxin produced by mold. Consumers are advised to discard any Tippy Toes baby food with a best-by date of July 17, 2026, and the package code INIA0120. The product, sold for about $1.99, was distributed throughout the U.S. (excluding Alaska) and in U.S. territories like Guam and Puerto Rico. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a recall of over 22,000 pounds of raw ground beef produced by CS Beef Packers, LLC, after routine testing detected the presence of E. coli O145, a bacterium that can cause illness within days of exposure.
These concurrent recalls underscore a broader trend: food safety incidents, while often caught before widespread harm occurs, highlight the importance of vigilance throughout the supply chain. For consumers, the message is clear—pay attention to recall notices, check lot numbers, and don’t take chances with potentially contaminated products. The FDA and food manufacturers say they remain committed to transparency and public safety, but the ultimate responsibility for avoiding recalled items often falls to individuals and institutions serving meals to the public.
For now, the recall of Ventura Foods’ single-serve peanut butter products stands as a reminder that even the most familiar foods can carry unexpected risks. As the investigation continues, both regulators and manufacturers are working to ensure that affected products are removed from circulation and that consumers remain safe.