Federal food-safety officials are telling families to pump the brakes on a freezer-aisle favorite after tests found unsafe levels of lead in Walmart’s Great Value dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets. The public-health alert, issued Tuesday, targets 29-ounce bags of “Great Value Fully Cooked Dino Shaped Chicken Breast Nuggets” produced on Feb. 10. The affected bags carry lot code 0416DPO1215 and a “best if used by” date of Feb. 10, 2027. Officials warn that even small amounts of lead can be harmful for children and pregnant people and are urging consumers to check their freezers for any matching packages, as reported by Food Safety News.
According to Food Safety News, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued the alert after routine surveillance sampling by a state partner detected elevated lead levels in the nuggets. FSIS did not request a formal recall because the product is no longer available for purchase, but officials say some bags are likely still in home freezers. The agency also cautioned that additional items could be added to the alert as the investigation moves forward.
What To Look For
Consumers are being asked to look specifically for “Great Value Fully Cooked Dino Shaped Chicken Breast Nuggets” in 29-ounce bags that list lot code 0416DPO1215 and establishment number P44164 on the back of the package. The nuggets were produced on Feb. 10, bear a “best if used by” date of Feb. 10, 2027, and were shipped to Walmart stores nationwide. For detailed labeling information and product images, see coverage from NewsChannel5.
Why Lead Is Especially Dangerous For Kids
The Food and Drug Administration’s interim reference level for dietary lead is 2.2 micrograms per day for children and 8.8 micrograms per day for women of childbearing age, according to the FDA. FSIS said testing found levels in the nuggets that could be as much as five times the children’s benchmark, Food Safety News reported.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has long warned that there is no safe level of lead exposure for children and provides guidance for clinicians on testing and follow-up care, per the CDC. Because young children absorb lead more readily than adults, even small but repeated doses can interfere with learning, behavior and overall development.
What To Do If You Bought The Nuggets
FSIS is urging anyone who finds bags that match the lot code and production details to throw the nuggets away or return them to Walmart for a refund, and to contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline with questions. That guidance is summarized by KSAT.
If a child may have eaten the product, contact your pediatrician; a blood test is the only way to confirm exposure and determine whether treatment or follow-up is needed. Officials also recommend keeping any packaging if you still have it and reporting suspected problems to FSIS through its online complaint portal or the hotline, especially if you notice illness.
Who Made The Nuggets
The affected bags list establishment number P44164. Inspection directories identify that number as Dorada Foods LLC in Ponca City, Oklahoma, according to state manufacturer listings compiled for regulatory purposes, including the entry on Georgia DECaL's manufacturer list. Reporters or consumers seeking company contact information are advised to use the product label or FSIS records.
FSIS says it will continue investigating and is encouraging anyone with questions to call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854), per FSIS. This story will be updated as officials release more information.
