FRito-Lay has issued a recall for several 13-ounce bags of Tostitos Cantina Traditional Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips after discovering that the product may contain nacho cheese-flavored chips, indicating the presence of an undeclared allergen.
The FDA has since classified the recall as Class I, which means “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”
Why It Matters
Milk is a major allergen under federal labeling laws, and its accidental presence in food products poses a significant risk to allergic consumers.
According to Food Allergy Research and Education, milk is the second most common food allergy in the United States, with an estimated 6.2 million Americans affected.
Symptoms of allergic reactions include hives, skin rashes, swelling, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and respiratory problems like coughing or wheezing. In severe cases, anaphylaxis may occur, resulting in throat swelling, a sudden drop in blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and loss of consciousness.
States Affected by Frito Lay Chips Recall
What To Know
The recall, which began on March 26, involves 1,295 bags of 13-ounce Tostitos Cantina Traditional Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips distributed in 13 states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Beginning March 7, the chips were available for purchase at grocery, drug, and convenience stores, as well as online retailers.
The affected packages are identified by their UPC 28400 52848, a “Guaranteed Fresh” date of May 20, 2025, and one of several specific manufacturing codes.
Consumers should check packaging for any of the following codes, where “XX” represents numbers from 30 to 55:
- 471106504 18 13:XX
- 471106505 85 13:XX
- 471106506 85 13:XX
- 471106507 85 13:XX
Frito-Lay initiated the recall as a precautionary measure, and no allergic reactions or illnesses have been reported to date. Consumers with dairy allergies are advised not to consume the product.
What People Are Saying
Frito-Lay said in a statement to Newsweek that a limited number of 13-oz. bags of Tostitos Cantina Traditional Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips are being recalled because they may contain nacho cheese tortilla chips, which could contain an undeclared milk allergen.
Since March 7, fewer than 1,300 bags of impacted products were available for purchase in stores in 13 states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia) and through digital channels.
Consumers can view the full press release on the Frito-Lay Contact Us page to see if their product is affected by the recall. Unless a consumer has a dairy allergy or is sensitive to milk, this product is safe to consume.”
Clinton Mathias, an associate professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Connecticut, told Newsweek that cow’s milk allergy is the most common allergy affecting infants and children in the United States.
It is estimated that between 0.5 and 3 percent of children under the age of three are allergic to dairy proteins. While most children, 40 to 57 percent, outgrow milk allergies by the time they reach school age, it remains one of the most common food allergies in adults, with approximately 1.9 percent reporting milk allergies.
“Symptoms of cow’s milk allergy can range from mild hives to severe reactions like anaphylaxis,” he explained. Other symptoms of milk allergy include vomiting, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and lethargy.
“Since milk allergy can lead to severe anaphylaxis and death in some people, and considering the unpredictability of reactions from person to person, it is best for allergic individuals to avoid exposure to milk proteins.”
What Happens Next
Consumers with milk allergies should immediately discard the affected chips. Those with questions can reach Frito-Lay via its website or by calling 1-800-352-4477 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Central time.
