If you’re a fan of Zapp’s or Dirty brand potato chips, you might want to check your pantry before your next snack break. Utz Quality Foods, the Pennsylvania-based snack giant that makes both brands, quietly issued a voluntary recall covering nine specific products. The bags were sold at retail stores across the country, and unless you’re actively looking for the news, you might have missed it entirely.
Here’s everything you need to know about which bags are affected, how to identify them, and what to do if you’ve got one sitting in your kitchen right now.
What Happened and Why
On May 4, 2026, Utz Quality Foods LLC issued a voluntary recall affecting certain varieties of Zapp’s and Dirty brand potato chips. The reason? A seasoning used on some of the chips contained dry milk powder that may have been contaminated with Salmonella. The milk powder came from a company called California Dairies Inc. and was supplied to Utz through a third-party supplier.
Here’s the thing that makes this a little unusual. The affected seasoning batches actually tested negative for Salmonella before Utz used them. So the chips weren’t confirmed to be contaminated. But because the upstream milk powder supplier issued its own recall, Utz pulled the products as a precaution. No illnesses have been reported in connection with any of the recalled chips.
The Full List of Recalled Products
Nine specific products are included in this recall. Not all Zapp’s or Dirty chips are affected. Only bags in certain flavors, sizes, and batch codes need to be tossed. According to the full product list, here’s what’s been pulled:
Zapp’s Brand Bayou Blackened Ranch Potato Chips, 1.5 oz (UPC 83791272917). Best-by dates: Aug. 3, Aug. 10, Aug. 17, Aug. 24, 2026. Batch codes: 26030070101, 26036070102, 26043070101, 26052070103.
Zapp’s Brand Bayou Blackened Ranch Potato Chips, 2.5 oz (UPC 83791272924). Best-by dates: Aug. 3, Aug. 17, Aug. 31, 2026. Batch codes: 26029070104, 26044070104, 26045070104, 26058070104.
Zapp’s Brand Bayou Blackened Ranch Potato Chips, 8 oz (UPC 83791272931). Best-by dates: July 27, Aug. 3, Aug. 10, Aug. 17, 2026. Batch codes include 26024070105, 26024070104, among others.
Zapp’s Brand Big Cheezy Potato Chips, 8 oz (UPC 83791192246). Best-by date: Aug. 31, 2026. Batch codes: 26058070104, 26059070104.
Zapp’s Brand Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips, 1.5 oz (60 ct). This is the club-size or bulk pack. Specific batch codes are listed in the FDA notice.
Dirty Brand Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips, 2 oz (UPC 83791520148). Best-by dates: Aug. 3 and Aug. 10, 2026. Batch codes: 26030070104, 26031070104, 26031070101, 26038070102, 26038070103.
Dirty Brand Maui Onion Potato Chips, 2 oz (UPC 83791520162). Best-by date: Aug. 8, 2026. Batch code: 26052070103.
Dirty Brand Sour Cream and Onion Potato Chips, 2 oz (UPC 83791520094). Best-by date: Aug. 31, 2026. Batch code: 26059070104.
Every single one of these products has a best-by date in July or August of 2026. If the bag you have at home doesn’t fall within those date ranges, it’s not part of the recall.
How to Check Your Bags
Flip the bag over. You’re looking for two things: the UPC code (the barcode number printed near the bottom of the package) and the best-by date, which is usually stamped or printed on the back or bottom of the bag along with a batch code. If your bag’s UPC, best-by date, and batch code all match one of the combinations listed in the recall, throw it out.
If the flavor you bought isn’t on this list, you’re fine. Zapp’s Voodoo chips, for example, are not included. Neither are regular Utz branded products. This recall is limited to specific flavors of Zapp’s and Dirty that used the affected seasoning.
Where Were These Chips Sold?
The recall notice says the affected products were sold at retail stores nationwide. That’s a broad statement, and it means exactly what it sounds like. No specific retailer list was provided. Zapp’s and Dirty chips show up everywhere, from major grocery chains like Kroger and Walmart to gas stations, convenience stores, and smaller independent shops. If you buy snacks anywhere in the United States, you could potentially have picked up one of these bags.
That’s also why this recall matters even if you don’t think of yourself as a regular Zapp’s buyer. Those little 1.5-ounce and 2-ounce bags are exactly the kind you grab without thinking at a gas station or when you’re loading up a road trip snack bag. They’re easy to forget about, which is exactly why it’s worth checking.
The Milk Powder at the Center of It All
The ingredient that triggered this whole thing is dry milk powder produced by California Dairies Inc. (CDI), a dairy cooperative based in Visalia, California. CDI supplies roughly 40 percent of the dried milk powder used in the United States. That is an enormous market share for a single supplier.
On April 20, 2026, CDI recalled nearly 2.7 million pounds of low heat nonfat dry milk and about 19,841 pounds of buttermilk powder. That’s a Class I recall, which is the most serious classification the FDA uses. Because CDI’s milk powder ends up in seasonings, coatings, and flavorings used by dozens of food manufacturers, the ripple effect was massive. Utz is just one of many companies that had to act.
What You Should Do Right Now
If you’ve got any of the recalled bags at home, don’t eat them. Throw them away. It doesn’t matter if the bag is open or sealed. If the UPC, batch code, and best-by date match the recall list, it goes in the trash.
If you want a refund, contact the Utz Customer Care team. You can call them at 1-877-423-0149, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time. You can also reach them by email. They’re handling refunds for all affected recalled products.
No Illnesses Reported, But That Doesn’t Mean Ignore It
As of the recall date, Utz confirmed that no one has reported getting sick from any of these chips. That’s good news. But the recall exists for a reason. The milk powder supplier flagged a potential contamination, and even though Utz’s own testing came back clean, the company decided not to take chances.
That’s actually the right call. A lot of people see “voluntary recall” and assume it means the problem isn’t serious. But voluntary just means the company initiated the recall on its own, rather than the FDA forcing it. The underlying concern is still real enough that the FDA is actively tracking every product connected to the California Dairies milk powder situation.
Not All Zapp’s and Dirty Chips Are Affected
This is worth repeating because it’s easy to panic and throw out your entire snack stash. The recall covers specific flavors with specific batch codes. If you have a bag of Zapp’s Voodoo chips, those are not on the list. If you have a bag of Dirty Funky Fusion or Dirty Sea Salted chips, those aren’t on the list either. Same goes for any other Utz brand product like Boulder Canyon, Hawaiian, or On The Border.
The affected flavors are Bayou Blackened Ranch, Big Cheezy, and Salt and Vinegar for Zapp’s, and Salt and Vinegar, Maui Onion, and Sour Cream and Onion for Dirty. Those are the only ones. And within those flavors, only bags with the specific batch codes and best-by dates listed above are included.
The Bigger Picture for Snack Buyers
This recall is part of a larger wave of product recalls all tied back to that same California Dairies milk powder. Other affected products include Ghirardelli chocolate powder, cheesy popcorn sold at Williams Sonoma, Good and Gather trail mix at Target, Giant Eagle pita chips, and several nut and seasoning products. Because CDI supplies such a huge percentage of the country’s dried milk powder, one problem at their facility has created a domino effect across multiple aisles at your grocery store.
The FDA is still working with downstream companies to figure out if even more products need to be pulled. If you want to stay on top of it, the FDA has a dedicated tracking page for all recalls connected to the California Dairies situation. It’s being updated regularly as new products are identified.
For now, though, if you’re a Zapp’s or Dirty fan, just check your bags. It takes 30 seconds. Look at the flavor, the UPC, and the best-by date. If it matches, toss it and call Utz for your money back. If it doesn’t match, enjoy your chips in peace.
