If you are rummaging through your pantry for a light, late night snack to munch on as you wind down for the day, you should perhaps stay clear of the oyster crackers that are more than likely to be hiding in the cupboard.
The FDA recently issued a recall notice for this family favorite snack that is sold at supermarkets and stores across the country and families are being urged to throw the product out immediately due to potential health and injury hazards as a result of a contamination of foreign matter.
Urgent recall issued by FDA for oyster crackers
A popular range of oyster crackers sold at supermarkets like Target and Walmart under each store’s respective private label brand has been issued with a recall notice by the United States Food and Drug Administration. The notice was issued after the product was discovered to contain fragments of stainless steel wire in them.
This could pose a threat of serious injury to any individual who consumes them. The steel fragments could cause potentially painful dental injuries, and if the wire pieces are somehow digested it could cause significantly detrimental internal damage. According to the recall notice that was sent out, consumption of the recalled product could lead to “a tooth injury and choking hazard, and a GI tract injury.”
The recalled oyster crackers were manufactured by Shearers Foods LLC. and were distributed to several supermarket chains across the country, including Walmart, Target, Vista, and Giant Eagle. The complete extent of distribution spanned twenty-four states. The states in question are Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
After Shearers Foods issued the initial recall notice, the FDA elevated its status to a Class II categorization. Class II is the second most severe categorization according to the FDA’s standards of categorization. Products issued with this recall status pose a moderate risk if consumed. According to the FDA, a Class II status means consumption of this item could result in “temporary or reversible health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”
How to identify the recalled oyster crackers
If you have a pack of oyster crackers laying around your pantry, be sure to keep an eye out for the following details so as to ensure your item is not a part of the recall:
- Market Pantry Soup & Oyster Crackers: UPC 085239114933, Sell By Date May 23, 2025; Code Date May 23, 2025 BC06
- Great Value Soup & Oyster Crackers: UPC 078742085494; Sell By Date May 23, 2025; Code Date May 23, 2025 ABO6, May 23, 2025 BBO6, May 23, 2025 CBO6
- Giant Eagle Oyster Crackers: UPC: 030034915087; Best By Date May 24, 2025; Code Date May 24, 2025 AB06
- Vista Soup & Oyster Crackers: UPC 045100008006; Best By Date May 24, 2025; Code Date May 24, 2025 AB06
- 20lb. Bulk Oyster Crackers: UPC 10045100400203; Best By May 24, 2025; Code Date May 24, 2025 AB06, May 24, 2025 BB06
If any individual finds themselves in possession of any of the abovementioned oyster cracker variations, they should discard of it immediately. Alternatively, customers can return the product to the store that they had purchased it from and a full refund will be issued to them.
Even though the product was immediately pulled from shelves in all the affected stores once the contamination was discovered, there is still a possibility of it being in pantry of many homes since it is a shelf stable item that is often bought in advance.
If any individual finds that they have consumed the recalled oyster crackers, they should seek medical attention immediately — and perhaps even contact a lawyer if they were unfortunate enough to end up with a mouth full of wire fragments.