Hormel Foods recalls over a quarter million pounds of Dinty Moore Beef Stew after discovering wood particles in cans that could pose serious health risks to American consumers.
Key Takeaways
- Hormel Foods is recalling 256,185 pounds of Dinty Moore canned beef stew due to potential wood contamination
- Affected products have “BEST BY FEB 2028” dates, lot code “T02045,” and establishment number “EST 199G”
- The recall follows three consumer complaints about wood pieces found in the product
- No injuries have been reported, but consumers should not eat the affected products
- Consumers can contact Hormel at 800-523-4635 with questions or return products to place of purchase
Major Food Safety Alert Affects Nationwide Distribution
American food manufacturer Hormel Foods Corporation has initiated an extensive recall of their popular Dinty Moore beef stew product after discovering potential wood contamination. The recall encompasses 256,185 pounds of canned stew that was produced on February 4, 2025, and subsequently distributed to retailers across the country. This significant action comes after three separate consumer complaints identified wood particles in the product, raising serious food safety concerns for American families who rely on these shelf-stable food products for convenient meals.
“Hormel Foods Corporation, a Tucker, Ga. establishment, is recalling 256,185 pounds of canned beef stew product that may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically wood, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today,” stated (FSIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service
How to Identify Affected Products
Consumers concerned about this recall should check their pantries for 20-ounce cans of Dinty Moore Beef Stew with specific identifying information. The affected products display a “BEST BY FEB 2028” date and carry the lot code “T02045” (which may occasionally have an additional digit). Also look for the establishment number “EST 199G” printed on the cans. These identification markers are critical for determining whether the products in your home might contain potentially dangerous wood fragments that could cause injury if consumed.
While no injuries have been reported thus far, health officials emphasize that consuming food containing wood particles poses significant health risks, including potential damage to the digestive tract. “reasonable probability” that consuming the product could cause serious health consequences. The wood fragments represent a foreign material contamination that should never be present in canned food products and raises questions about quality control procedures at Hormel’s manufacturing facilities.
Consumer Response and Reporting
Hormel Foods and government regulators are instructing consumers who have purchased the affected Dinty Moore Beef Stew to either discard the product immediately or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers should not attempt to consume these potentially contaminated items under any circumstances.
Additional resources for consumers with food safety questions include the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at Consumers experiencing adverse reactions after consuming these products should contact healthcare providers immediately and report their experiences to food safety authorities. This widespread recall highlights ongoing concerns about food supply safety and the importance of rigorous quality control in American food manufacturing, especially for products that many Americans rely on for emergency food supplies.
