Public Health Alert Issued For Ready-To-Eat Chicken Nuggets 2026

Keeping up with food recalls and health alerts can be a challenge, as it seems there are new ones announced to the public every month. However, it's important to stay on top of them because recalls are issued when your health could be at stake.

Recently, a public health alert was issued for frozen, dinosaur-shaped, ready-to-eat chicken nuggets because they could contain unsafe levels of lead. The products were shipped to Walmart stores nationwide.

The reason that a health alert was issued instead of a full recall is that the products are no longer available to purchase in Walmart stores.

However, there is a concern that the products could still be in consumers' freezers throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, and other parts of the country, to be cooked at a later date.

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Health Alert Issued in April, 2026

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) says it issued the public health alert after lead was discovered in "GREAT VALUE FULLY COOKED DINO SHAPED CHICKEN BREAST NUGGETS” during routine surveillance sampling conducted by a state partner.

The chicken nuggets were produced on February 10, 2026. The following product is subject to the public health alert [view labels]:

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.

Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS is continuing to investigate this issue, and consumers are urged to check back frequently as additional products could be added.

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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.

Guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration provide an interim reference level (IRL) of 2.2 micrograms. The amount of lead found in these nuggets could be as much as five times higher. Health experts also say these nuggets may be a risk for women who are pregnant or who could become pregnant. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for information on the health effects of lead consumption.