"Families with dairy allergies and sensitivities already know to check their food labels. But what happens when a potential allergen is not declared on the label? That’s what is currently happening with the latest recall of Lay’s Classic Potato Chips. On January 27, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) elevated a previous Lay’s Potato Chips recall to its highest risk level, “indicating a high probability of serious injury or death” from consuming the product. Why? The product may contain undeclared milk.
The recall of this popular snack item is not nationwide. The recalled chips were only distributed in two states: Oregon and Washington. But that still potentially affects many families and can be dangerous for those with severe milk allergies. Thankfully, no allergic reactions related to this matter have been reported to date. Here’s what to know about the most recent Lay’s Potato Chip recall.
Which Lay’s potato chips are being recalled?
A limited number of Lay’s Potato Chips are part of the recall. According to the FDA’s report, the chips were distributed to certain retail stores and e-commerce distributors in Oregon and Washington. Consumers would have been able to purchase these chips as early as November 3, 2024.
Here’s what to look for:
- 13 oz Lay’s Classic Potato Chips
- UPC: 28400 31041
- “Guaranteed Fresh” date of 11 FEB 2025 AND have one of the following the Manufacturing Codes: 6462307xx or 6463307xx
No other Lay’s products, flavors, sizes or variety packs are recalled.
What should you do if you have the recalled Lay’s Potato Chips?
According to the report, anyone with an allergy or sensitivity to milk should not consume the product and discard it immediately. Consumers with the product described above can contact Frito-Lay Consumer Relations at 1-800-352-4477 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday.
Why did the FDA elevate the Lay’s recall?
As parents navigate ongoing food recalls, it helps to know what, exactly, constitutes real cause for concern and weigh any risks. We’ve dealt with recalls of some of our kid’s favorite foods lately—from pancakes to baby carrots. In this case, the FDA elevated the Lay’s Classic Potato Chips recall to its highest Class I level for the risk of severe allergic reaction for those with milk allergies or sensitivities.
Milk is one of nine allergens the FDA requires to be listed if it’s present on food labels in the United States:
- Milk
- Eggs
- Fish (e.g., bass, flounder, cod)
- Crustacean shellfish (e.g., crab, lobster, shrimp)
- Tree nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, pecans)
- Peanuts
- Wheat
- Soybeans
- Sesame
Additionally, here is how FDA classifies their recalls, according to the FDA’s website:
Class 1 recall
The most severe recall, indicating a high probability of serious injury or death. For example, a baby formula with an unknown toxin that could cause disability.
Class 2 recall
A product that may cause temporary or reversible health issues, or a low probability of serious health issues. For example, a medical device that has caused injury or illness, or a food with unsafe additives.
Class 3 recall
A product that is unlikely to cause adverse health issues, but still violates FDA regulations.
Kathy Sisson, Senior Editor
As a mom of two, Kathy is passionately committed to sharing the honest, helpful—and often humorous—stories of motherhood, as she navigates her own everyday adventures of work, marriage, and parenting. She honed her creative and strategic skills at advertising agencies in Detroit and Chicago, before pivoting from marketing to editorial. Now instead of telling brand stories, she’s sharing her own, with articles published across popular parenting sites—including hundreds of stories on The Everymom.