A sweeping recall of potato chip snacks sold in North Carolina and nationwide has been upgraded to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s most serious threat level over salmonella concerns.
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Select varieties of Zapp’s and Dirty brand potato chips are now classified under a Class I recall, according to the agency’s Office of Inspections and Investigations. This means there’s a “reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”
The recall involves millions of bags sold at major grocery stores including Publix, Harris Teeter and Food Lion. Smaller packages were also sold at convenience store chains like 7Eleven, according to Utz’s product locator.
It comes nearly two months after parent company Utz Quality Foods voluntarily recalled the popular snacks after it learned a flavor seasoning containing dry milk power could be tainted with salmonella bacteria, CharlotteFive previously reported.
So far, no illnesses have been reported, the FDA said.
Here’s what to know about the nationwide recall.
The nationwide recall involves nine limited varieties of Zapp’s and Dirty Brand potato chips with “best by” dates between July 27 and Aug. 31, according to the recall notice.
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The following snacks are now under “Class I” recall:
If you have any of these snacks in your pantry, throw them out, officials said. Customers can also request refund by calling the Utz Customer Care Team at 1-877-423-0149.
Salmonella poisoning is a bacterial disease often spread through contaminated food or water, and can cause severe intestinal illness, according to Mayo Clinic.
Symptoms can appear within eight to 72 hours after exposure and may include:
Most people recover with a few days without treatment. However, experts say salmonella infection can cause “life-threatening complications” if it spreads beyond the intestines, especially in people with weakened immune systems.
Portions of this story previously appeared in The Charlotte Observer.
This story was originally published July 2, 2026 at 4:23 PM with the headline “Recalled Utz potato chips sold in NC upgraded to most serious risk level.”
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