HANOVER, PENNSYLVANIA — The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) upgraded a recall of Zapp's and Dirty potato chips to a Class 1 designation. Utz, the manufacturer, issued a voluntary recall in May for varieties of Zapp's and Dirty potato chip products due to the possible presence of salmonella in dry milk powder sourced from a third party.

The FDA defines a Class 1 designation as "a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death." Nearly 685,000 bags of potato chips were affected by the recall. The affected chips had best before dates ranging from July 27 to August 31.

Utz stated that the presence of salmonella in any of its products had not been found. "To date, there have been no complaints of illness reported to Utz in connection with the recalled products," the manufacturer said. "Utz is recalling these products based on the ingredient supplier's recall." The impacted chips' seasoning contains dry milk powder sourced from California Dairies, which recently issued its own recall of milk powder due to potential Salmonella contamination.

The affected products include Zapp's Brand Bayou Blackened Ranch Potato Chips in 1.5oz, 2.5oz, and 8oz sizes, and Zapp's Brand Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips in 1.5oz size. Also included are Zapp's Brand Big Cheezy Potato Chip in 2.5oz and 8oz sizes, Dirty Brand Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips in 2oz size, Dirty Brand Maui Onion Potato Chip in 2oz size, and Dirty Brand Sour Cream and Onion Potato Chips in 2oz size. "Consumers who have these products should not eat them and should discard any products they may have," Utz said.

Why It Matters

Salmonella is a group of bacteria responsible for food-borne illnesses and accounts for about one in four diarrheal diseases worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Symptoms of salmonella infection typically include sudden fever, stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, and occasionally vomiting. Healthy persons infected with salmonella often experience these symptoms.

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in young children, frail or elderly people, and individuals with weakened immune systems. The upgrade of the recall to a Class 1 designation by the FDA indicates the potential for severe health consequences related to the consumption of the recalled products.