Contamination Recall
FDA Announces Voluntary Recall of Frozen Vegetarian Foods Due to Plastic Contamination
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MorningStar Farms has voluntarily recalled two popular frozen plant-based products over concerns about plastic contamination, the FDA announced. The affected items — Buffalo Chik'n Nuggets (10.5 oz) and Hot & Spicy Sausage Patties (8 oz) — were sold across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica. As of June 22, 2026, no injuries have been reported, according to FDA.
The company, now owned by Mars, Inc. following its $36 billion acquisition of Kellanova in December 2025, says it moved quickly after internal quality checks flagged a potential issue. Consumers who have the recalled products should contact MorningStar Farms for a full refund, according to Fox 10 TV.
Which Products Are Affected and How to Check
Two specific products are part of this recall. The first is Buffalo Chik'n Nuggets (10.5 oz) with UPC 000 28989 10110 5. The second is Hot & Spicy Sausage Patties (8 oz) with UPC 000 28989 10094 8. Both items carry a 'Better If Used Before' date between July 5 and July 8, 2027, according to WBTV.
If your product matches one of those UPC codes and dates, stop using it. Do not eat it. Contact MorningStar Farms directly to get a refund. No other MorningStar Farms products are part of this recall, the company says, according to WSMV.
Mars Calls It Voluntary, but Experts See Systemic Gaps
Mars framed the recall as a proactive safety step. A company spokesperson said, "protecting the safety and wellbeing of our consumers is our highest priority" and that the company "moved quickly to investigate" once it learned of the issue, according to WLFI.
Consumer advocates see it differently. PIRG's 'Food for Thought 2026' report argues that recall alerts often reach the public days after a company first spots a problem. The affected batches were likely produced between October 2025 and May 2026 — meaning some products may have already been consumed before the June 18 recall was issued, according to WFSB.
Plastic Is Now the Top Cause of Food Contamination in the U.S.
This recall is part of a growing trend. Plastic is now the number one cause of physical food contamination in the U.S., according to industry analysis from FlexXray. Standard factory X-ray systems often miss plastic pieces because plastic is less dense than metal or bone, making it harder to detect on a production line, according to KLTV.
Similar incidents have hit other food giants recently. Conagra Brands recalled over 245,000 pounds of frozen chicken strips for plastic in September 2023. In March 2026, Ajinomoto Foods pulled 37 million pounds of frozen products due to glass contamination. Analysts say rapid factory scaling — like that seen during the Mars-Kellanova merger — can create quality control gaps, according to WNEM.
FDA Classifies Risk as Low, but Choking Hazard Remains Real
The FDA typically classifies plastic contamination recalls as Class II. That means the product may cause temporary health problems but is unlikely to cause serious injury. Still, hard plastic fragments pose a real choking risk, especially for children eating nuggets as a quick meal, according to 13ABC.
Food safety experts say the political environment is also shifting. The recall adds pressure to the 'Make America Healthy Again' movement, which has spotlighted risks in ultra-processed industrial foods. It may push regulators to require better plastic-detection technology in U.S. food factories, according to Fox 5 Vegas.
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