A mislabeled chicken product is putting egg-allergic consumers at risk — and it may already be in your kitchen.
Federal food safety officials have issued an urgent public health alert over a popular boneless chicken product sold across nine states, warning that a labeling error could put consumers with egg allergies in serious danger. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the alert, flagging a packaging flaw that may have slipped past the notice of thousands of shoppers.
Which USDA Chicken Product Is Affected?
The product at the center of the alert is a 21-ounce package of Private Selection Honey Dijon Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat. The impacted packages carry a best-if-used-by date of June 28, 2026, along with lot code 15326A and establishment number P-45288B printed on the packaging.
These chicken products were distributed to Kroger and Fred Meyer grocery stores — two of the country’s most widely recognized supermarket chains — across Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington.
Why the USDA Chicken Alert Was Triggered
The problem lies not in the chicken itself, but in its packaging. The back label on the affected products contains incorrect nutritional information — crucially, it fails to list eggs as an allergen. For the roughly 2 million Americans living with an egg allergy, this omission is far from trivial.
The Honey Dijon marinade used in the product contains egg as an ingredient, but shoppers relying on the label to make safe dietary decisions would have no way of knowing that. Federal labeling laws require that the top eight allergens — including eggs — be clearly disclosed on all food packaging.
The Allergic Reaction Risk You Should Not Ignore
As of the time of the announcement, no allergic reactions linked to the product had been formally reported. However, health officials are urging vigilance, particularly for those with known egg sensitivities. An accidental exposure can trigger responses ranging from mild hives to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include hives, difficulty breathing or speaking, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain or diarrhea. Anyone experiencing these symptoms after consuming the product should call 911 or seek emergency medical attention immediately.
A Recall Was Not Issued — Here’s Why
Despite the severity of the potential health risk, the FSIS did not formally request a product recall. The agency explained that the affected chicken is no longer available for purchase at retail locations. That said, the product’s best-if-used-by date of late June 2026 means some packages could still be sitting in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers, making the alert no less urgent.
This distinction between a public health alert and a recall is one that catches many consumers off guard. A recall typically requires the product to still be in commerce; an alert is issued when the risk is present but the product has already exited the market.
What to Do If You Have the Affected Chicken
The FSIS is urging anyone who may have purchased this product to dispose of it immediately or return it to the store where it was bought for a full refund. Consumers should not attempt to consume the product, regardless of whether they believe they have an egg allergy.
For those with questions or concerns about the alert, FW Farms LLC — the manufacturer behind the product — can be contacted directly at [email protected]. The company has been identified as the establishment responsible for producing the mislabeled batch.
Food safety advocates have long emphasized that allergen mislabeling is among the most preventable yet consequential errors in the food supply chain. This latest incident underscores the critical importance of rigorous quality control at every stage of production and packaging — especially for products marketed to everyday households.
Source: EatingWell