Dirty Potato Chips Recall Lawsuit | 2026 Latest Updates

Utz Quality Foods voluntarily recalled three flavors of Dirty-brand potato chips after learning a seasoning ingredient might carry Salmonella. The company announced the recall on May 4, 2026, and the FDA now lists it as Ongoing and Class I. The recalled products are Dirty Salt and Vinegar, Dirty Maui Onion, and Dirty Sour Cream and Onion potato chips, sold in 2 oz bags nationwide. Each bag carries identifying codes that match the recall notice. The seasoning may contain Salmonella, which can cause serious illness in some people. Anyone with an affected bag should stop eating it, check the packaging details, and discard it right away.

Latest Dirty Potato Chips Recall Updates

June 24, 2026: FDA Classifies the Recall Class I

The FDA classified the three Dirty-brand recalls as Class I, its highest risk level, on June 24, 2026, per openFDA [1]. This appeared in the agency’s July 1, 2026 weekly Enforcement Report. The classification applies to all three recalled flavors, listed under recall numbers H-1114-2026, H-1115-2026, and H-1117-2026, which together account for about 324,795 recalled bags distributed nationwide to retail stores.

May 4, 2026: Utz Recalls Dirty and Zapp’s Potato Chips

According to the FDA recall notice, Utz Quality Foods, LLC announced a voluntary recall on May 4, 2026 [2]. A seasoning supplier had flagged a possible Salmonella risk in certain Dirty and Zapp’s chip varieties. The recall began on April 28, 2026. No illnesses had been reported at the time, and the seasoning batches had tested negative for Salmonella before they were used.

What Is Salmonella?

The FDA’s Salmonella (Salmonellosis) page describes Salmonella as a group of bacteria that causes gastrointestinal illness and fever, a condition known as salmonellosis [3]. It spreads when food handlers do not wash their hands, when people eat raw or undercooked food, or through contact with animals. The seasoning tied to this recall was flagged as a possible source of a Salmonella infection.

Which Dirty Potato Chips Are Affected?

Three 2 oz varieties of Dirty-brand potato chips are included in the recall. Each is identified by the UPC, best-by date, and batch code printed on the bag:

• Dirty Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips (2 oz), UPC 83791520148, best-by dates 3-Aug-26 or 10-Aug-26, batch codes 26030070104, 26031070104, 26031070101, 26038070102, or 26038070103
• Dirty Maui Onion Potato Chip (2 oz), UPC 83791520162, best-by 8-Aug-26, batch code 26052070103
• Dirty Sour Cream and Onion Potato Chips (2 oz), UPC 83791520094, best-by 31-Aug-26, batch code 26059070104

These flavors were sold at retail stores nationwide, though a sale period or price is not stated. Consumers should check all three details against the list above before deciding whether a bag is part of the recall.

Why Were the Dirty Potato Chips Recalled?

Dirty potato chips were recalled because a seasoning made with dry milk powder from California Dairies may contain Salmonella bacteria. A third-party supplier flagged the seasoning soon after discovering the problem, and it issued its own recall of the affected batches right away. Utz’s own test on the seasoning came back negative for Salmonella before it went into the chips. The company pulled the chips anyway rather than trust one test result. The recall applies only to the specific Dirty and Zapp’s varieties made with the flagged seasoning. Other Utz-made snacks are not affected. The same notice separately covers a Zapp’s potato chips recall for different flavors made with the same seasoning.

Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses

Utz has not received any complaints of illness connected to the recalled Dirty or Zapp’s potato chips, the company told the FDA in its May 4, 2026 recall notice. The chips were distributed to retail stores in 34 states. The absence of reported illness does not necessarily mean every bag is safe. Salmonella infections are not always reported, and someone who ate a recalled bag without symptoms may still have been exposed. Young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems face the highest risk of a serious Salmonella illness. Anyone who ate the recalled chips and later became sick should contact a healthcare provider and mention the recall.

What Should Consumers Do?

Anyone with a bag of the recalled Dirty potato chips should take the following steps:

1. Check the identifying codes on the bag against the recall list above.
2. Do not eat any of the recalled Dirty Salt and Vinegar, Maui Onion, or Sour Cream and Onion chips.
3. Discard the chips or return them to the store where they were purchased.
4. Contact Utz Customer Care at 1-877-423-0149 (Monday-Friday, 9 am to 6 pm Eastern) for questions or a refund.
5. Watch for Salmonella symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps, which usually start 12 to 72 hours after exposure.
6. See a healthcare provider if symptoms appear, especially in young children, older adults, or anyone with a weakened immune system.

Legal Options

People who became seriously ill after eating a recalled bag of Dirty or Zapp’s potato chips may have a legal claim. It could name Utz Quality Foods or its seasoning supplier. No lawsuit, class action, or multidistrict litigation has been filed over this recall as of September 25, 2026. The JPML‘s pending-MDL docket carries no listing naming Utz, Dirty, or Zapp’s chips [4]. A recall does not automatically establish liability or eligibility for compensation. A lawyer who handles foodborne-illness cases can review medical records and proof of purchase.

Filing Deadlines

A legal claim’s filing deadline comes from the laws of the state where the person lives, not from this recall. Each state sets its own time limit, and the clock can start on different dates depending on the case. For a foodborne-illness claim, the deadline depends on when the illness and diagnosis happened, and where the sick person lives. A missed filing deadline can end a claim, even one backed by strong facts. Talking to a lawyer promptly is the safest way to protect it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Symptoms of Salmonella Poisoning from These Chips?

Symptoms of Salmonella poisoning from these chips include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps that start 12 to 72 hours after exposure and usually last four to seven days. Severe cases can bring a high fever, headache, or blood in the stool and need a doctor’s care.

What Other Products Were Recalled Along with Dirty Potato Chips?

Other products recalled along with Dirty potato chips include several Zapp’s-brand potato chip varieties covered by the same FDA notice. These include Bayou Blackened Ranch, Salt and Vinegar, and Big Cheezy, all made with the same seasoning by Utz Quality Foods.

Can You File a Lawsuit over the Dirty Potato Chips Recall?

You may be able to file a lawsuit over the Dirty potato chips recall if a documented Salmonella illness followed eating a recalled bag. No existing lawsuit is required for a case review. Building a claim takes evidence such as the bag, a receipt, and medical records.

What Is Utz Quality Foods?

Utz Quality Foods, LLC is a snack food company based in Hanover, Pennsylvania. It makes a wide range of savory snacks and is a part of Utz Brands, Inc. It made the Dirty and Zapp’s chips covered by this recall.

What Other Foods Have Been Linked to Salmonella Outbreaks?

Foods linked to past Salmonella outbreaks in the United States include meat and poultry, according to the FDA. Others are raw or undercooked eggs, dairy products, fruits, leafy greens, raw sprouts, and nut butters. This recall’s seasoning is a dairy-based ingredient, a category linked to past outbreaks.

Which States Received the Recalled Dirty Potato Chips?

The recalled Dirty and Zapp’s chips reached retail stores in 34 states, according to the FDA’s enforcement records. That includes California, Texas, and New York. The notice does not name specific retailers, only that the chips were sold at retail stores nationwide.

References

1. https://api.fda.gov/food/enforcement.json?search=recalling_firm:%22Utz%22+AND+product_description:%22Dirty%22&limit=10
2. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/utz-quality-foods-llc-issues-voluntary-recall-certain-limited-varieties-zapps-and-dirty-potato-chips
3. https://www.fda.gov/food/foodborne-pathogens/salmonella-salmonellosis
4. https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/pending-mdls-0