
The Food and Drug Administration just raised the recall level of Lay’s Classic Potato Chips to the highest risk classification.
Frito Lay issued a recall on Dec. 16 through the FDA for over 6,000 bags of Lay’s Classic Potato Chips that contained “undeclared milk.”
According to the initial recall report, the FDA said “Those with an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consumed the recalled product.”
On Monday, the FDA upgraded the recall to their highest classification — class 1 — which is identified as “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death,” per the administration’s website.
Frito-Lay said in a statement, “This is not a new recall or a change to what was previously announced,” the statement reads. “The recall was executed in December in full cooperation with the FDA when the issue was identified. The recall was limited to two states, and recalled product has been removed from the marketplace.
The specifically recalled chips were: 13-ounce bags of Lay’s Classic Potato Chips with UPC of 28400 31041, a “Guaranteed Fresh” date of Feb. 11, 2025, and a Manufacturing Code of either 6462307xx or 6463307xx. The batch was distributed in Washington and Oregon and the chips were available for purchase as soon as Nov. 3, 2024.
What is undeclared milk?
Undeclared milk refers to milk that is present in a food product but wasn’t listed in the ingredients or label. This can happen when something is mislabeled with wrong label or a labeling error. It can also happen via cross-contamination that can occur during processing.
According to the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, milk is the predominant undeclared allergen in U.S. food product recalls.
Milk is one of the FDA’s “Big 9” food allergens. For those that are allergic to it, milk consumption can lead to sudden, severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reactions such as hives, rash, tingling or swelling of lips, mouth, face, tongue, or throat, vomiting and/or diarrhea, cramps, coughing or wheezing, dizziness or lightheadedness, difficulty breathing, or drop in blood pressure.
What should you do if you have the recalled chips?
People who may have an allergy or sensitivity to milk should not consume the product, the alert said.
Frito-Lay is encouraging people who may have the recalled chips to throw them out immediately.
If you have any questions or concerns about this recall, you may contact Frito-Lay Consumer Relations at 1-800-352-4477 on Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT.