Dorada Foods issues alert for chicken nuggets due to lead contamination

Dorada Foods consumer alert overview:

• Who: Dorada Foods is alerting consumers about frozen, dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets, with no specific number of units recalled.
• Why: The nuggets may contain unsafe levels of lead.
• Where: The alert is effective across the United States.

Dorada Foods has issued a public health alert for its dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets due to potential lead contamination.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has warned that these Dino nuggets might still be present in consumers’ freezers, even though they are no longer available for purchase.

The alert was issued on April 1, 2026, and pertains to products produced on Feb. 10, 2026.

The affected chicken nuggets are packaged in 29-ounce plastic bags and labeled as “Great Value Fully Cooked Dino Shaped Chicken Breast Nuggets,” with a “Best If Used By” date of Feb. 10, 2027, and a lot code of “0416DPO1215.” These nuggets were distributed to Walmart locations nationwide.

The contamination was discovered during routine surveillance sampling by a state partner, revealing lead levels up to five times higher than the FDA’s interim reference level for children.

“Lead is especially dangerous for pregnant women, infants and young children because it can harm developing brains and nervous systems,” the alert says.

Consumers urged to check refrigerators for any affect chicken nuggets

The FSIS has emphasized the potential health risks associated with lead exposure, particularly for vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and young children.

The alert highlights that there is no safe level of lead exposure, and the detected levels in these Great Value recall nuggets pose a significant risk.

Consumers who have purchased these products are advised not to consume them and to either dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase.

“Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them,” the recall notice says.

Dorada Foods is actively investigating the issue in collaboration with FSIS to ensure no further products are affected. The company has not initiated a formal recall since the products are no longer available for sale, but the alert serves as a precautionary measure to protect public health.

For more information about the alert, consumers can contact John Patrick Lopez, Vice President of Strategy, Communications & Government Affairs at Dorada Foods, via email at [email protected].

Additionally, the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline is available at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) for any food safety inquiries. Consumers can also report issues through the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.

Dorada Foods states it has not received any reports of illness or injury related to the alert so far. The company is not currently facing legal action over the alert, but Top Class Actions follows recalls closely as they sometimes lead to class action lawsuits.

Last month, Fruselva USA recalled more than 25,000 units of its Good & Gather Baby Pea, Zucchini, Kale & Thyme Vegetable Puree, distributed by Target, due to concerns over lead contamination.

Are you affected by this Dorada Foods recall? Let us know in the comments.

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