The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a public health alert for Great Value Fully Cooked Dino Shaped Chicken Breast Nuggets sold at Walmart nationwide after routine surveillance testing found the product may contain lead at levels up to five times higher than the FDA’s benchmark for children. The alert was issued April 1, 2026. No formal recall has been issued because the product is no longer sold in stores, but the USDA warns the nuggets may still be in consumers’ freezers. No illnesses have been reported.
What’s Being Alerted?
The alert covers 29-ounce plastic bags of Great Value Fully Cooked Dino Shaped Chicken Breast Nuggets (approximately 36 nuggets), manufactured by Dorada Foods and sold at Walmart locations nationwide. The affected bags were produced on February 10, 2026, and can be identified by the best-by date “FEB 10 2027,” lot code 0416DPO1215, and establishment number P44164, all printed on the upper left corner of the back of the bag. These bags were shipped to Walmart stores across the country and are no longer available for sale. FSIS says additional products may be added as the investigation continues.
Why Was This Alert Issued?
The contamination was discovered during routine surveillance sampling conducted by the New York State Department of Health on behalf of the FSIS. Testing found lead levels potentially up to five times higher than the FDA’s interim reference level of 2.2 micrograms per day for children. There is no safe level of lead exposure. Lead is especially dangerous for young children, infants, and pregnant women because it can damage developing brains and nervous systems, causing lasting harm including learning disabilities, developmental delays, and lowered IQ. Lead exposure symptoms are not always obvious and can resemble other conditions.
What Should You Do?
Check your freezer immediately for 29-ounce bags of Great Value Dino Shaped Chicken Breast Nuggets with lot code 0416DPO1215, best-by date FEB 10 2027, and establishment number P44164 on the back. Do not eat the product under any circumstances. Throw it away or return it to your Walmart store for a refund. If a child or pregnant person in your household consumed these nuggets, contact your healthcare provider about lead testing. For food safety questions, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854).
Source: https://www.today.com/health/recall/dino-chicken-nuggets-recall-great-value-walmart-lead-rcna266384
