USDA Warns of Wood Contamination in Campbell's and Other Frozen Soups
There's something extra in the soup—and it's not seasoning. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for 13 varieties of frozen soup and bowl meals due to possible contamination with foreign material. The FSIS says wood pieces could be found in the cilantro used in these products. Read on to find out which items are affected, how to identify them in your freezer, and what steps you should take if you have one of the affected products.
To clarify, the FSIS has not issued a formal recall for these products. However, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) initiated a recall for the cilantro ingredient used in the said products after it was found to contain wood fragments. That discovery led the FSIS to issue a public health alert and launch a deeper investigation, as the affected soup and bowl meals may still be stored in consumers' refrigerators or freezers.
The alert currently applies to select batches of products from Campbell's, Campbell's-owned Verve, Health Request, Life Cuisine, Molly's Kitchen, Sysco, and Crafted Market. FSIS notes that this may only be the beginning—more products could be added as the investigation continues, and additional updates are expected.
For now, only the following items are included in the alert:
Campbell's Chicken Tortilla Soup: Establishment Number P-17644; Use By/Sell By Date October 24th, 2026, and December 15th, 2026
Campbell's Soup Baja Chicken Enchilada Soup: Establishment Number P-17644; Use By/Sell By Date October 7th, 2026, and November 3rd, 2026
Campbell's Wicked Thai Soup: Establishment Number P-17644; Use By/Sell By Date October 1st, 2026
Health Request Mexican Chicken Tortilla: Establishment Number P-17644; Use By/Sell By Date October 27th, 2026
Life Cuisine Vital Pursuit Southwest Style Taco Bowl: Establishment Number P-17644; Use By/Sell By Date March 2026 and April 2026 (no specific day provided)
Molly's Kitchen Baja Chicken Enchilada Soup: Establishment Number P-17644; Use By/Sell By Date October 7th, 2026, October 28th, 2026, December 11th, 2026
Molly's Kitchen Chicken Chili: Establishment Number P-17644; Use By/Sell By Date October 9th, 2026
Molly's Kitchen Chicken Enchilada Soup: Establishment Number P-17644; Use By/Sell By Date October 28th, 2026, November 10th, 2026, and December 11th, 2026
Molly's Kitchen Mexican Chicken Tortilla: Establishment Number P-17644; Use By/Sell By Date November 13th, 2026
Sysco Chicken Tortilla Soup: Establishment Number P-17644; Use By/Sell By Date November 10th, 2026
Verve Spicy Chicken Nacho Soup: Establishment Number P-17644; Use By/Sell By Date October 7th, 2026, and November 3rd, 2026
Verve Wicked Thai Soup: Establishment Number P-17644; Use By/Sell By Date October 7th, 2026
Crafted Market Coconut Chicken Thai Style Soup: Establishment Number CA-711
Lot Number: 1 05025 BBD; Use By/Sell By Date May 21st, 2025
Lot: 1 05825 BBD; Use By/Sell By Date May 29th, 2025
Lot: 1 06325 BBD; Use By/Sell By Date June 3rd, 2025
Lot: 1 03425 BBD; Use By/Sell By Date May 5th, 2025
To help you further identify these products, their label images can be found here.
Some of the impacted products were made for food service and distributed exclusively to restaurants and institutions, but others reached grocery store shelves. The affected items' distribution has been limited to four states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. However, with the FSIS anticipating more additions, this health alert could soon expand nationwide.
If you have any of the products included in this health alert, do not consume them. Dispose of the items immediately or return them to the store where you purchased them for a full refund.
Consuming frozen soup products with cilantro contaminated with wood could present a variety of health risks, including:
Choking Hazard: Pieces of wood, depending on their size and shape, could pose a choking risk, especially for children, elderly individuals, or anyone with difficulty swallowing. Larger or sharper wood fragments could block the airway or cause severe choking.
Oral or Gastrointestinal Injury: Wood fragments, especially if sharp or brittle, could cause cuts or abrasions in the mouth, throat, or digestive tract, potentially leading to pain, bleeding, or even more serious injuries like punctures.
Contamination with Harmful Pathogens: Wood can harbor bacteria, mold, or other microorganisms that might be present on the wood's surface. If these pathogens are transferred to the cilantro or the soup, they could cause foodborne illnesses, such as food poisoning, leading to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach cramps.
Allergic Reactions: While cilantro itself is not typically an allergen, the wood could contain substances or chemicals that may trigger an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals, leading to symptoms like itching, swelling, or difficulty breathing.
Chemical Contaminants: If the wood has been treated with chemicals (e.g., preservatives, pesticides, or other industrial treatments), these chemicals could contaminate the cilantro and the soup, posing a risk to health if ingested.
To avoid these risks, it is important to follow the FSIS health alert's recommendations to dispose of or return the affected products.
Read the original article on GEEKSPIN. Affiliate links on GEEKSPIN may earn us and our partners a commission.
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