A significant food safety alert has been issued in the United States, with tens of thousands of cases of frozen tater tots being pulled from shelves over contamination fears. The recall, which now affects consumers in 26 states, was escalated this week due to the potential presence of clear, hard plastic fragments within the products.
Details of the Expanded Recall
The initial action was taken in December by McCain Foods USA Inc, based in Idaho. According to an enforcement report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the company recalled nearly 40,000 cases of two popular tater tot brands.
On Tuesday, 6th January 2026, the situation became more serious when the FDA elevated the recall to a Class II classification. This official designation means that consumption of the affected items could lead to temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, according to the agency's guidelines.
Which Products and States Are Affected?
The frozen potato products were distributed to retailers across a vast swathe of the country. The 26 impacted states are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The specific products under recall are:
- 21,256 cases of Ore-Ida Tater Tots Shaped Potatoes (Item # OIF00215A, UPC 1 00 72714 00215 8).
- 17,597 cases of Sysco Imperial Potato Tater Barrels (Item # 1000006067, UPC 1 07 34730 62740 0).
Consumers can also identify the items by checking batch codes and production dates listed on the official recall notice. While no illnesses have been reported to date, authorities are urging the public to either discard the products immediately or return them to their point of purchase for a full refund.
A Pattern of Foreign Material Contamination
This incident is not isolated. The presence of foreign materials prompted several other major food recalls throughout 2025, with multiple alerts being upgraded in severity recently.
Just last month, Fresh & Ready Foods, LLC recalled four of its ready-to-eat breakfast items, including Spicy Veggie Breakfast Burritos and Eggs Potatoes Cheese Tacos, also due to potential foreign material. That recall was similarly elevated to a Class II and affected retailers in Oregon and Washington.
Furthermore, in October, Ventura Foods recalled over 3,500 cases of various salad dressings, such as Caesar dressing sold at Costco, because black plastic planting material was potentially present in the granulated onion ingredient. This recall too was upgraded to Class II last month.
These consecutive and serious alerts highlight ongoing challenges in food production safety and supply chain integrity. For consumers, the advice remains clear: stay informed about recall notices and act promptly if you possess any of the listed products to ensure your household's safety.
