USDA Retracts Health Alert for Walmart Frozen Chicken Nuggets

This article was created with the assistance of generative AI. It was reviewed by editors before publication.

The Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has retracted a public health alert issued April 1 for Walmart’s Great Value Dino Shaped Chicken Nuggets, saying it has confirmed the product does not pose a public health concern. ​

The alert stemmed from routine surveillance sampling by the New York State Department of Public Health, which detected elevated lead levels in the product.​

Following the alert, both the state health department and Dorada Foods conducted additional sampling across the original lot and subsequent lots. All follow-up testing came back clean, including a retest of the original lot.​FSIS said it then reviewed the original lab reports in coordination with the New York State Department of Health and determined the initial result was a false positive, caused by sporadic lead contamination at the laboratory during analysis, not contamination of the product itself. Follow-up testing confirmed no elevated lead levels were present in any of the products tested.​

A recall was not initally requested because the product was no longer available for purchase.

Which chicken nuggets were included in the now-retracted health alert?

The FSIS retraction applies to Great Value Fully Cooked Dino Shaped Chicken Breast Nuggets, which were shipped to Walmart locations nationwide:

• Package: 29-ounce plastic bag (about 36 nuggets)
• “Best if used by” date: February 10, 2027
• Lot code: 0416DPO1215
• Establishment number: P44164 (printed on the back of the bag)
• Production date: Produced Feb. 10, 2026

What should consumers do now?

The FSIS has withdrawn the alert and says the nuggets do not pose a public health concern, and the agency is updating its alert page to ensure consumers have accurate, up-to-date information. Consumers with food safety questions can contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888‑MPHotline (888‑674‑6854) or email MPHotline@usda.gov.

Why lead is a concern (and who’s most at risk)

Lead can be harmful at any age, but it poses special risks to children, whose brains and nervous systems are still developing. Public health agencies note that lead exposure in childhood is linked to damage to the brain and nervous system as well as learning and behavior problems.

In adults, research links ongoing or higher lead exposure with health problems that can matter more as we age, including higher blood pressure and cardiovascular effects and kidney damage or impaired kidney function.

For older adults, some evidence suggests lead stored in the body over decades may be linked to memory problems and may increase the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Symptoms aren’t always obvious right away and can resemble other conditions, so if you believe you may have been exposed to lead — or you’re worried about elevated levels — health authorities advise contacting a health care provider to discuss next steps, including whether testing is appropriate.