A powdered milk Salmonella recall that began on April 20, 2026 has grown into one of the most expansive food recall events of the year, now encompassing over 40 food products from multiple manufacturers — sold at some of America's largest retailers, including Costco, Kroger, Publix, Target, and Walmart.
The origin of the recall was California Dairies Inc. (CDI), a major Visalia, California-based dairy cooperative, which voluntarily recalled 2,679,357 pounds of low heat nonfat dry milk and 19,841 pounds of buttermilk powder on April 20, 2026 due to potential contamination with Salmonella. The bulk products were distributed to multiple wholesale distributors and manufacturers who used the powdered milk as an ingredient in a wide range of consumer food products.
The FDA has placed the recall on its Major Product Recalls page — a designation reserved for recalls "with significant downstream effects, typically involving five or more related events." The agency is continuing to work with downstream consignees to identify all additional affected products and has noted that the list is expected to grow. No illnesses have been confirmed in connection with any of the recalled products as of the most recent updates.
The Scope of the Recall — Over 40 Products and Still Expanding
What makes the California Dairies recall particularly complex from a consumer protection standpoint is the nature of powdered milk as an ingredient. Unlike a whole milk or cheese product that is identifiable on store shelves, nonfat dry milk and buttermilk powder are used invisibly as ingredients in snack mixes, seasoning blends, baked goods, chips, crackers, and dozens of other processed food products. Consumers who purchased these products may have no way of knowing their food contains the recalled dairy ingredient without consulting the FDA's and USDA's recall trackers.
As LiveNOW from FOX reported, over 40 food items from multiple manufacturers have been confirmed as affected by the recall. The downstream products confirmed so far include:
- John B. Sanfilippo & Son's snack mix products, including a 30-oz. Fisher Tex Mex Trail Mix (Best By 8/6/2027)
- Pork King Good's Sour Cream and Onion pork rinds and seasoning products
- Utz Quality Foods' certain Zapp's and Dirty brand potato chips, including 2 oz. Dirty Brand Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips (Best By dates 8/3/2026 and 8/10/2026)
- JCB Flavors' selected topical seasoning products
- Motor City Pizza Co.'s 5 Cheese Bread (single-pack and two-packs), available at Costco, Kroger, Publix, Target, and Walmart
Mesa County Public Health and multiple county health departments have issued alerts directing consumers to the FDA and USDA websites for the most current, complete product list.
| Recall Scope | Detail |
| Original recall (CDI) | April 20, 2026 |
| Total CDI product recalled | 2,679,357 lbs nonfat dry milk; 19,841 lbs buttermilk powder |
| Reason | Potential Salmonella contamination |
| Downstream products affected | Over 40 confirmed as of mid-June 2026 |
| Retailers with confirmed affected products | Costco, Kroger, Publix, Target, Walmart, and others |
| Confirmed illnesses | None reported as of June 2026 |
| FDA designation | Major Product Recall (significant downstream effects) |
| Where to check current list | FDA major recalls page and USDA recall tracker |
Who Is Most at Risk — and What Salmonella Can Do
Salmonella is a bacterial infection that causes salmonellosis — one of the most common foodborne illnesses in the United States. Mesa County Public Health notes that symptoms typically begin within six hours to six days of eating contaminated food and can include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Most otherwise healthy adults will recover within four to seven days without treatment.
However, three groups face significantly more serious risk: infants and young children, adults 65 and older, and immunocompromised individuals, including those undergoing cancer treatment, living with HIV, taking immunosuppressant medications, or receiving organ transplants. In these populations, Salmonella can spread from the gut into the bloodstream, causing bacteremia and potentially life-threatening systemic infection requiring hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics.
Powdered milk is used in infant formula preparation in some contexts, which makes the recall particularly concerning for families with young infants who may rely on powdered dairy products in their cooking or formula supplementation. Parents should review any powdered dairy products in their kitchens against the current recall list.
Consumers should immediately check pantries and freezers for any of the products named in the recall. Any affected products should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase for a full refund. Do not taste products to determine whether they are safe — Salmonella contamination is not detectable by smell, taste, or appearance. For the current complete product list, visit FDA's Major Product Recalls page or the USDA recall tracker.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the California Dairies powdered milk recall?
California Dairies Inc. (CDI) voluntarily recalled 2.7 million pounds of bulk nonfat dry milk and 19,841 pounds of buttermilk powder on April 20, 2026, due to potential Salmonella contamination. The recall has expanded to over 40 downstream food products made with the contaminated ingredient.
What stores were selling affected products?
Confirmed retail locations include Costco, Kroger, Publix, Target, Walmart, and more than 20 other companies and retailers. The list of affected products continues to expand as FDA and USDA identify additional downstream manufacturers.
Have any people gotten sick from this recall?
As of the most recent FDA updates, no confirmed illnesses have been linked to products from this recall. All recalls were initiated as precautionary measures by the participating companies.
Who is most at risk from Salmonella in these products?
Infants, adults over 65, and immunocompromised individuals face the highest risk of severe Salmonella illness. In these populations, the infection can spread beyond the gut into the bloodstream, causing serious systemic illness requiring hospitalization.
How do I know if a product I have is recalled?
Check the FDA's Major Product Recalls page for California Dairies and the USDA recall tracker for the most current, updated list of all affected products. Do not rely on any product list that does not come from these official sources, as additional products are being added continuously.
