USDA FSIS Public Health Alert: Check Meat & Poultry Products for Possible Salmonella Linked to FDA-Regulated Dairy Ingredients
Update: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) issued a public health alert about certain meat and poultry products that contain FDA-regulated dairy ingredients and may be contaminated with Salmonella. If you have any of the affected products, the action is clear: do not consume—discard or return the specific items according to the FSIS directions.
This alert is also important for families because additional downstream products may be added later. The best move today is to check your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer against the product list/resources linked from the FSIS alert.
What shoppers need to check at home
Before you serve dinner or open a package, take 2–3 minutes to check what you have on hand:
- Meat and poultry products (including ready-to-eat or prepared items) that may contain FDA-regulated dairy ingredients
- Any packages where you can identify the product details listed by FSIS (use the FSIS alert’s affected-product resources to match what’s on your package)
- Items stored in the freezer—if the product is listed, it’s still not something you should eat
Tip for busy households: Put the product aside and check the FSIS alert page (the affected-product resources linked there) using the identifiers provided. If you can’t match your item to what’s listed, don’t guess—pause and re-check.
If you find an affected product
If your package matches one of the products identified in the USDA FSIS public health alert:
- Do not consume the product.
- Discard or return it based on the specific instructions provided for that product in the FSIS alert.
Keep the packaging (if possible) until you’ve followed the FSIS direction for how to dispose of or return the item. That makes it easier to confirm you used the correct instruction for the exact product.
If someone already ate it
Sometimes food recall timing catches up after a meal. USDA FSIS’s guidance for this situation is:
- If someone became ill after eating the affected product, report it through FSIS’s Electronic Consumer Complaint system.
- If no one is ill and you no longer have the product, the FSIS alert does not call for additional steps beyond staying alert for updates.
If your household notices symptoms after exposure and you’re unsure what to do, follow your usual medical guidance. The key recall-specific step from FSIS is reporting through their complaint system when someone becomes ill.
What happens next (and why you should re-check)
USDA FSIS specifically notes that more downstream products may be added. That means a product you didn’t recognize during your first check could show up later if it’s determined to contain the affected dairy ingredient.
For that reason, consider bookmarking the FSIS public health alert page and checking back after a day or two—especially if you’re trying to restock with similar items or you plan to use remaining groceries soon.
Quick next steps for today
- Find any meat or poultry packages that could match the FSIS alert’s affected-product information.
- Use the FSIS alert’s linked resources to confirm whether your item is on the list.
- If it is on the list: do not eat; discard or return as directed.
- If someone got sick after eating it: submit a report using FSIS’s Electronic Consumer Complaint system.
- Check back, since additional downstream products may be added.
