Importance Score: 55 / 100 🔵
Public Health Alert Issued for Soup Products Due to Potential Contamination
A public health alert has been issued by the USDA for over a dozen varieties of soup products, including popular brands such as Campbell’s. The alert was prompted by concerns that these items may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically wood. This food safety notification affects multiple brands and product types, urging consumers to check their refrigerators and freezers.
Cilantro Contamination Triggers Soup Alert
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) released the public health alert last week, indicating that the issue stems from potential contamination in an ingredient, cilantro. The cilantro, used in the affected soup products, may be contaminated with wood. This has led to concerns across a range of brands and products.
Affected Brands and Products
Besides Campbell’s, the alert includes products from:
- Molly’s Kitchen
- Healthy Request
- Sysco
- Vital Pursuit
- Crafted Market by Meijer
A total of thirteen products are impacted, consisting primarily of soups, along with one chili and one taco bowl. With the exception of a single item, all affected products are frozen dishes. These frozen soup products are under scrutiny due to the potential wood contamination.
Distribution and Potential Expansion of the Alert
The potentially contaminated soup products were initially shipped to retail and institutional locations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. However, the FSIS indicates that the reach of the advisory could expand as further information becomes available. Consumers in these and potentially other states should be vigilant.
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Source of Contamination
The precise origin of the wood contamination is currently under investigation. The FSIS notice was initiated after notification of a recall affecting cilantro, an FDA-approved ingredient, due to the presence of foreign material. This suggests the contamination originated within the supply chain for the cilantro ingredient.
List of Affected Campbell’s Products:
- Frozen Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Frozen Baja Style Chicken Enchilada Soup
- Frozen Spicy Chicken Nacho Soup
- Frozen Verve Wicked Thai Style Soup with Chicken
List of Affected Molly’s Kitchen Products:
- Frozen Kitchen White Bean Chicken Chili
- Frozen Kitchen Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Soup
- Frozen Kitchen Baja Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Soup
- Frozen Kitchen Chicken Tortilla Soup
Additional Affected Products by Brand:
- Sysco: Frozen Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Healthy Request: Frozen Mexican Style Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Vital Pursuit: Frozen Southwest Style Beef Taco Bowl
- Crafted Market by Meijer: Coconut Chicken Thai Style Soup
Product Details and Recommendations
The affected soup products come in various sizes, ranging from 9.5oz to 32lb containers, and have ‘sell by’ and ‘use by’ dates spanning from April 2026 to December 2026. Specific establishment numbers for these products are P-17644, 17644B, and CA-711. Lot codes of concern include 1 05025, 1 05825, 1 06325, and 1 03425.
Consumer Advice Regarding Affected Products
The FSIS strongly advises customers and institutions in possession of these soup products against consuming or serving them. Consumers should either discard the potentially contaminated soup or return it to the original point of purchase for a refund or exchange.
Public Health Alert vs. Recall
It is important to note the distinction between a public health alert and a recall. A recall involves a company proactively removing products from store shelves due to significant safety risks. Conversely, the FSIS issues a public health alert to inform the public about possible health risks when a formal recall is deemed not necessary, or in situations where the agency cannot directly mandate a recall. In this instance, the alert serves as a crucial warning to consumers about potentially contaminated food products.