The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health announcement on April 11 for various soup and bowl products that may be contaminated with a foreign material, specifically wood.

The affected products were distributed to retail and institutional locations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. FSIS says it anticipates other products may be added, potentially resulting in nationwide impacts.

Newsweek reached out to Mitch Adams of the FSIS Public Affairs office via email on Saturday for comment.

Why It Matters

The recall involves potential contamination from foreign materials, which poses a risk of dental injury or choking if consumed.

Product recalls are issued when a food manufacturer or government agency determines that a product may pose a risk to consumers. These risks can include contamination with foreign materials, undeclared allergens, or potential exposure to harmful bacteria such as Salmonella or Listeria.

Recalls are typically classified by severity, and while not all involve immediate danger, they are carried out as a precaution to protect public health.

Food recalls are of great concern to many Americans. A December 2024 report by Civic Science found that 80 percent of those participating in the survey were worried about food recalls.

What To Know

Affected products include Campbell’s Chicken Tortilla Soup, Molly’s Kitchen Chicken Enchilada Soup, Verve Spicy Chicken Nacho Soup, and several other ready-to-eat items.

A list of the affected products as well as their use by and sell by dates:

• Campbell’s Chicken Tortilla Soup (P-17644) – Oct 24 2026; Dec 15 2026
• Campbell’s Soup Baja Chicken Enchilada Soup (P-17644) – Oct 07 2026; Nov 03 2026
• Campbell’s Wicked Thai Soup (P-17644) – Oct 1 2026
• Health Request Mexican Chicken Tortilla (P-17644) – Oct 27 2026
• Life Cuisine Vital Pursuit Southwest Style Taco Bowl (P-17644) – Mar 2026; Apr 2026
• Molly’s Kitchen Baja Chicken Enchilada Soup (P-17644) – Oct 07 2026; Oct 28 2026; Dec 11 2026
• Molly’s Kitchen Chicken Chili (P-17644) – Oct 09 20206
• Molly’s Kitchen Chicken Enchilada Soup (P-17644) – Oct 28 2026; Nov 10 2026; Dec 11 2026
• Molly’s Kitchen Mexican Chicken Tortilla (P-17644) – Nov 13 2026
• Sysco Chicken tortilla Soup (P-17644) – Nov 10 2026
• Verve Spicy Chicken Nacho Soup (P-17644) – Oct 07 2026; Nov 03 2026
• Verve Wicked Thai Soup (P-17644) – Oct 07 2026
• Crafted Market Coconut Chicken Thai Style Soup (CA-711) – Lot codes: 1 05025 BBD: 21-May-25, 1 05825 BBD: 29-May-25, 1 06325 BBD: 03-Jun-25, 1 03425 BBD: 05-May-25

The contamination was discovered when an FSIS establishment notified authorities about the recall of an FDA-regulated ingredient, cilantro.

Consumers who purchased these items are urged not to consume them and institutions should not serve them. All affected products should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase. The FSIS website should be monitored for updates as additional products may be added to the recall list.

What People Are Saying

Statement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service: “FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ and institutional refrigerators or freezers.”

Dr. Mark Fischer, regional medical director at International SOS, previously told Newsweek: “It can be dangerous to consume metals or other foreign objects found in food…[They] can cause cuts or internal injury and may need to be removed via a surgical procedure. If you swallow any foreign objects, it’s best to consult a healthcare professional.”

What Happens Next?

FSIS will likely conduct further investigations to determine the full scope of potentially affected products. Consumers should check the FSIS website regularly for updates as the recall may expand to include additional products or states.

The agency’s consumer hotline (888-674-6854) remains available for food safety questions, and consumers can report problems through the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System.