This high-profile recall is impacting one of the best-known brands in meats—and items that might be in your fridge today.
More Than 22,000 Pounds of Meat Recalled in 10 States
Published on Apr. 07, 2025
About 80% of all homeowners own a grill, according to home industry data, and the early hints of warm weather have some consumers already stocking up. Heads up if you’re a brats-and-dogs kind of grill chef: Over the weekend, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a recall affecting a well known meat brand in 10 states.
On April 5, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) published a recall advisory on approximately 22,672 pounds of none other than Johnsonville cheddar bratwursts. The recall was put into action by Johnsonville, LLC, after “two consumer complaints reporting hard plastic material found in the bratwurst product.”
The recalled products were shipped to retail locations in 10 total states: Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
The product details include the following, according to the FSIS announcement:
- Johnsonville BRATS CHEDDAR Bratwurst
- Sold in 19-ounce sealed firm tray packages containing five pieces of bratwursts
- Package code: B9FOD
- Establishment number “Est. 1647” on the front of the label
- Reportedly produced February 5, 2025
On Monday afternoon, the Kroger website offered information for its customers, saying the recall affects meat bearing the UPC label 77782-00793 on products distributed in the following areas:
Affects Kroger stores located in Georgia; South Carolina; Auburn, Alabama; Greater Cincinnati (including Northern Kentucky and Dayton, Ohio plus South Eastern Indiana); Central and Northwest Ohio; Northwestern Virginia panhandle; Michigan; Indiana (except SE Indiana, -Evansville-); Illinois; Eastern Missouri; Greater Louisville area (including Indiana) and Lexington, Kentucky; Hopkinsville and Bowling Green, Kentucky; Nashville and Knoxville, Tennessee; Huntsville, Alabama; Greater Memphis area, Tennessee; Arkansas; Mississippi; Western Kentucky; North Carolina; Virginia; Eastern West Virginia; Eastern Kentucky; Southeastern Ohio; Texas and Louisiana; Dillons, Baker’s, Gerbes, Food4less, and FoodsCo stores.
If you have the described products in your freezer or refrigerator, the FSIS warns that you should not consume the bratwursts and instead throw them away or return them to the original retail location.
Though no injuries related to the recall have been reported to the FSIS, the agency encourages anyone to reach out to a healthcare professional if they have concerns. Additionally, consumers can report problems with meat, poultry, or egg products anytime using the FSIS Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System.
In recent weeks, both Coca-Cola and hot sauce products have faced recalls due to plastic ending up in product.
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