WAHINGTON — On April 1, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert for frozen, dinosaur-shaped, ready-to-eat chicken nuggets that may be contaminated with unsafe levels of lead.
A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase, but the FSIS is concerned that some products may still be in consumers’ freezers, FSIS said in a statement.
The nuggets were produced on Feb. 10, 2026. The product label for this public health alert reads:
- 29-oz. plastic bags containing approx. 36 “GREAT VALUE FULLY COOKED DINO SHAPED CHICKEN BREAST NUGGETS” with “BEST IF USED BY” date “FEB 10, 2027,” lot code “0416DPO1215,” and establishment number “P44164” printed on the back of the bag.
The product was shipped to Walmart locations across the country, so FSIS is continuing to investigate this health alert. The problem was only discovered during routine surveillance sampling conducted by a state partner, FSIS noted.
Consumers who have purchased these products are strongly urged not to consume them and to either throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lead is especially dangerous for pregnant women, infants, and young children because it can harm developing brains and nervous systems, sometimes causing lasting problems.
There is no safe amount of lead exposure, but guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration provide an interim reference level of 2.2 micrograms. The amount of lead found in these nuggets could be as much as five times higher than this IRL for children, FSIS warned.
FSIS also warned that additional products could be added to this public health alert, so they advise people to frequently check their website for updates.
Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov.
