MorningStar Farms, the popular plant-based food brand owned by Mars Inc., has recalled two of its frozen products sold across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica after customers reported finding plastic pieces in their food. The recall covers specific lots of Buffalo Chik'n Nuggets and Hot & Spicy Sausage Patties, and consumers who purchased the affected packages are advised to discard them immediately and contact the company for a full refund.
The urgency of this recall is heightened by a critical detail: the affected products carry "Better If Used Before" dates in July 2027. That means recalled items could remain in home freezers for months before a consumer would think to check them, unless they are actively looking.
Why This Matters
Plastic contamination in food poses real physical injury risks. Hard or sharp plastic pieces can cause choking, cuts to the mouth or throat, dental damage, or gastrointestinal injury if swallowed. Children and older adults are especially vulnerable to choking hazards from foreign material in food.
Consumers of plant-based products often assume those items carry different risk profiles than conventional processed meat. This recall is a reminder that physical contamination risks are not limited by product category — any packaged, manufactured food item can be affected.
Because these products were distributed nationally and are stocked in grocery chains serving every major U.S. metro area, the recall reaches households in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Seattle, Denver, and across every state. Consumers who shop at national grocery retailers are likely within the distribution footprint.
What We Know So Far
MorningStar Farms issued its voluntary recall on June 18, 2026. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration published the notice on June 22–23, 2026.
The recall was initiated after MorningStar Farms received customer complaints about the possible presence of plastic pieces in their food, a Mars spokesperson confirmed to multiple outlets, including ABC News and Fox Business.
"At MORNINGSTAR FARMS, our highest priority is protecting the safety and wellbeing of our consumers," a Mars spokesperson stated. "As soon as we learned of a potential issue, we moved quickly to investigate and identify any foods produced that might be impacted."
No injuries have been reported in connection with this recall as of the time of publication. The recall is precautionary, meaning it was initiated before any injuries were confirmed — which is exactly how voluntary recalls are intended to work.
Exactly Which Products Are Recalled
Consumers should check their freezers for the following specific items. Only these lots are affected; no other MorningStar Farms products are included in the recall.
MORNINGSTAR FARMS Buffalo Chik'n Nuggets
- Package size: 10.5 ounces
- UPC code: 000 28989 10110 5
- "Better If Used Before" dates: July 7, 2027 and July 8, 2027
MORNINGSTAR FARMS Hot & Spicy Sausage Patties
- Package size: 8 ounces
- UPC code: 000 28989 10094 8
- "Better If Used Before" dates: July 5, 2027 , July 6, 2027 , and July 7, 2027
If you have either of these products in your freezer with these UPC codes and "best by" dates, do not consume them. Discard the product or return it to the place of purchase.
No other MorningStar Farms varieties — including other nugget or patty formats — are part of this recall.
Where the Risk Is Highest
Because MorningStar Farms products are distributed to grocery retailers nationwide, any household that purchased these specific lots is potentially affected. The products are carried by major chains including Walmart, Target, Kroger, Safeway, and other national and regional grocery retailers.
The risk to any individual consumer depends on whether they purchased the specific lot numbers included in the recall. Consumers who buy plant-based foods regularly and may have stocked up — particularly those who purchased products in late June — are most likely to have affected packages still in their freezers.
Households with young children, infants, or older adults should check immediately, as these groups face the greatest choking and injury risk from plastic contamination.
What the FDA Says About Foreign Material Recalls
The FDA classifies recalls involving potential foreign-material contamination among the more common food-related recalls issued each year. Hard or sharp foreign objects, such as plastic, can cause physical injury if consumed, including choking, lacerations, and internal damage.
Under FDA guidelines, a recall is defined as the removal of products "that present a risk of injury or gross deception or are otherwise defective." This is a voluntary recall — meaning MorningStar Farms initiated it, not the FDA. Voluntary recalls initiated promptly by manufacturers in response to consumer reports are considered a responsible safety practice by the agency.
The company has not disclosed how plastic may have entered the production process, and no public statement has addressed the source of contamination.
What Doctors and Experts Say
While no clinical expert has commented specifically on this recall, the FDA's consumer guidance on foreign material in food is consistent: do not consume any product if you suspect it contains plastic, metal, glass, or other foreign matter. Even small plastic pieces can cause injury depending on their shape, size, and hardness.
The primary risks from plastic in food include:
- Choking, particularly in children and older adults
- Cuts or lacerations to the mouth, throat, or esophagus
- Damage to teeth
- Gastrointestinal injury, including perforation in rare cases involving sharp or rigid materials
Anyone who consumed affected products and experienced injury, unusual pain, difficulty swallowing, or gastrointestinal symptoms should contact a healthcare provider promptly and report the incident to the FDA through MedWatch.
What the Evidence Shows and What It Does Not
This is a precautionary voluntary recall based on customer complaints and company investigation — not a confirmed contamination of every package in the affected lots. However, the company cannot rule out that plastic pieces are present in recalled products, and consumers should not assume their specific package is unaffected simply because they haven't noticed anything unusual.
The recall covers products based on specific lot numbers and "best by" dates, not by a broad product line suspension. Only the two varieties listed above, with the specific UPC codes and dates described, are included.
Who Faces the Greatest Risk?
Any consumer who purchased the recalled lot numbers is potentially at risk, but injury risk is highest for:
- Young children who may not be able to identify a foreign object in their food
- Older adults with swallowing difficulties
- People with dental work or fragile teeth
- Anyone who may eat quickly without carefully chewing food
- Individuals with gastrointestinal conditions that could make an injury more serious
Parents who serve MorningStar Farms nuggets to children should check their freezers as a priority.
Symptoms and Warning Signs to Watch For
If you consumed products from the recalled lots and experienced any of the following, contact a healthcare provider:
- A sudden choking sensation or feeling that something is lodged in the throat
- Sharp or unusual pain while chewing or swallowing
- Persistent throat or chest pain after eating
- Nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain that began after eating
- Visible blood in stool or saliva
For severe choking, difficulty breathing, or loss of consciousness, call 911 immediately.
If you did not experience any symptoms and have since discarded the product, no medical follow-up is needed. The FDA and MorningStar Farms have not reported confirmed injuries from this recall.
What You Can Do Now
- Check your freezer now. Locate any MorningStar Farms Buffalo Chik'n Nuggets (10.5 oz) or Hot & Spicy Sausage Patties (8 oz) and compare the UPC code and "Better If Used Before" date against the recalled lots listed above.
- If you have a recalled product, do not consume it. Discard the package or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.
-
Contact MorningStar Farms Consumer Affairs
for a full refund:
- Phone: 800-962-0120
- Text: 877-453-5837
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
- Report any injury to the FDA MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting System online or by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088.
- If you experienced pain, choking, or symptoms after eating these products, contact your healthcare provider.
Cost and Access: What Patients Should Know
MorningStar Farms is offering a full refund for all recalled products. No receipt is required to contact the company, and consumers can reach Consumer Affairs via phone or text during business hours. Grocery store return policies may also allow consumers to return unopened recalled products directly to the store for a refund.
For anyone who was injured and incurred medical costs, the FDA's MedWatch reporting system is the appropriate channel for documenting injuries related to recalled products.
What Happens Next
MorningStar Farms has not publicly disclosed whether the source of plastic contamination has been identified or whether production changes have been made. The company stated it acted quickly once the potential issue was identified.
The FDA will monitor whether additional consumer reports of injury emerge and may take additional regulatory action if warranted. MedicalDaily will follow any expansion of this recall or additional safety actions as they develop.
The Bottom Line
Two popular MorningStar Farms frozen products — Buffalo Chik'n Nuggets and Hot & Spicy Sausage Patties — are recalled due to possible plastic contamination. No injuries have been confirmed, but the risk of choking or injury from plastic pieces in food is real. Because the affected products carry "best by" dates in July 2027, they may still be sitting in your freezer right now.
Check the UPC codes and dates listed in this article. If you have a recalled product, discard it and contact the company for a full refund. If you or a family member experienced any symptoms after eating these products, contact a clinician.
