USDA Expands Salmonella Alert as Aldi, Walmart Frozen Pizzas Added to Recall List

Key facts

• USDA's FSIS issued a public health alert on April 30, 2026, for meat and poultry products with potentially Salmonella-contaminated dairy ingredients.
• Affected products include Mama Cozzi’s Biscuit Crust pizzas (Aldi), Great Value frozen pizzas (Walmart), and Culinary Circle Ultra Thin Crust Chicken Bacon Ranch pizza.
• Pork King Good Sour Cream & Onion Pork Rinds (1.75-oz and 7-oz bags) produced between Dec 30, 2025 and Feb 12, 2026 are also recalled.
• The contamination originates from a dry milk powder ingredient previously recalled by the FDA.
• to date.
• FSIS expects additional downstream products to be identified as the ingredient recall progresses.
• In April 2026, FSIS issued three public health alerts total, one of which was later retracted due to lead concerns.
• Another alert involved misbranded raw beef and pork products from Quality Meat Sky Ranch with undeclared sesame allergen.

Alert Expanded to Include Major Retailers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has expanded a public health alert for meat and poultry products containing dairy ingredients that may be contaminated with Salmonella, now encompassing frozen pizzas sold at Aldi and Walmart. The initial alert, issued on April 30, 2026, warned of potential contamination from an FDA-regulated dairy ingredient — a dry milk powder that had already been recalled by the Food and Drug Administration. The expansion adds Mama Cozzi’s Biscuit Crust pizzas from Aldi and several Great Value frozen pizza varieties from Walmart to the list of affected products. Consumers are urged to check their freezers for the recalled items and either discard them or return them to the store for a full refund. The FSIS stated that it is concerned some products may still be in consumers’ or retailers’ refrigerators or freezers, given the broad distribution of the ingredient.

Products and Production Dates Under Scrutiny

The full list of products subject to the public health alert includes Pork King Good Sour Cream & Onion Pork Rinds in 1.75-oz bags (EST. 1321, produced Dec 30, 2025 – Feb 12, 2026) and 7-oz party-size bags (produced Jan 7 – Feb 10, 2026). Also affected are Culinary Circle Ultra Thin Crust Chicken Bacon Ranch pizza (Lot Code WC103309, produced Feb 19, 2026), Great Value Thin Crust Chicken Bacon Ranch pizzas (Lot Codes WC103203 and WC103803, produced Feb 11 and Mar 12, 2026), and Great Value Stuffed Crust Chicken Bacon Ranch pizzas (Lot Codes WC104173, WC104065, and WC103793, produced Feb 28, Mar 1, and Mar 8, 2026). Mama Cozzi’s Biscuit Crust pizzas sold at Aldi are also included, though specific lot codes were not detailed in the alert. The FSIS anticipates that additional downstream products will be identified as the ingredient recall progresses, meaning the list may grow.

Salmonella Risk and Vulnerable Populations

Salmonella infection can cause serious illness, particularly in older adults, infants, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare cases, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and lead to severe complications. of adverse reactions have been linked to these products to date, but the potential for contamination warrants caution. The contamination pathway traces back to a dairy-based dry milk powder that was previously recalled by the FDA. That ingredient was used by multiple FSIS-regulated establishments, leading to the widespread alert. The FSIS and FDA are coordinating to track the distribution of the contaminated powder and identify all affected products.

Broader Recall Landscape in April 2026

The Salmonella-related alert was one of three public health alerts issued by the FSIS in April 2026, marking a decrease from five alerts in both February and March. One alert was later retracted after additional testing: it had been issued due to concerns over potential trace levels of lead, but those concerns were resolved. Another alert addressed misbranding of raw beef and pork products from Quality Meat Sky Ranch, which contained an undeclared allergen (sesame). Those products, produced from December 1, 2025, through April 6, 2026, were no longer available for purchase, so a recall was not requested. The number of alerts in April represents a slight dip compared to the previous two months, but the Salmonella alert is notable for its nationwide scope and the involvement of major retailers like Aldi and Walmart.

What Consumers Should Do Now

Consumers who have purchased any of the affected products should not eat them. The FSIS advises discarding the items or returning them to the place of purchase for a full refund. For questions, consumers can contact the FSIS or the respective retailers. The agency has not provided a timeline for when the investigation might conclude, but it expects to identify additional products as the ingredient recall progresses. The alert serves as a reminder of the complexity of modern food supply chains, where a single contaminated ingredient can affect dozens of products across multiple brands. As the investigation continues, consumers are urged to stay informed through official channels and to check their freezers for the recalled items.

The bottom line

• A contaminated dry milk powder ingredient has triggered a nationwide public health alert for Salmonella, affecting frozen pizzas at Aldi and Walmart and pork rinds from Pork King Good.
• The FSIS alert, issued April 30, 2026, covers products with production dates from December 2025 through March 2026.
• No illnesses have been reported, but the FSIS warns that products may still be in consumers' freezers.
• Additional downstream products are expected to be identified as the ingredient recall progresses.
• April 2026 saw three FSIS public health alerts total, down from five in March and February.
• Consumers should discard or return affected products for a full refund and monitor for updates.