Popular frozen hash brown patties that could contain sharp plastic fragments up to 8mm in size have been recalled across the U.S. and four countries, putting consumers at risk of broken teeth, choking hazards, and internal injuries.
Key Takeaways
- Lamb Weston has recalled approximately 34,801 cases of frozen hash brown patties due to potential contamination with sharp plastic pieces up to 8mm in size.
- The recall was voluntarily initiated on April 19, 2025, after contamination was discovered through routine X-ray testing, affecting products distributed across the U.S. and internationally to Japan, Kuwait, Taiwan, and the UAE.
- This is classified as a Class II recall, indicating potential for temporary health problems with low risk of serious injuries, with infants, elderly, and post-surgery patients at highest risk.
- Despite the extensive recall, no injuries, illnesses, or consumer complaints have been reported in connection with the contaminated products.
- This is not Lamb Weston’s first major recall, as the company previously recalled over 1 million pounds of hash browns in 2022 and 680,000 pounds of Tater Puffs in 2019.
Foreign Material Contamination Prompts Massive Recall
Lamb Weston’s hash brown patty recall affects nearly 35,000 cases of frozen potato products that may contain dangerous plastic fragments. The FDA-confirmed recall was initiated after routine X-ray testing revealed plastic contamination with pieces potentially as large as 8mm. These fragments pose serious health risks including choking hazards, broken teeth, and possible internal injuries. The recall specifically targets certain production lots distributed both domestically across the United States and internationally to Japan, Kuwait, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates.
The health implications are particularly concerning for vulnerable populations. Infants who might be fed soft foods like hash browns, elderly adults with dental issues, and individuals recovering from surgeries face elevated risks from accidental consumption of these contaminated products. While the FDA has categorized this as a Class II recall—indicating temporary health consequences with low probability of serious adverse effects—the scope of distribution raises significant concerns about potential exposure.
Company Response and Consumer Protection
Lamb Weston has taken what appears to be a minimalist approach to public notification about this significant safety issue. Despite the scale of the recall affecting tens of thousands of cases, the company did not issue a press release to inform consumers. Instead, the information became available through FDA regulatory notices, raising questions about transparency in food safety communications. The company claims most affected products remained under their control, potentially limiting consumer exposure.
“Out of an abundance of caution,” a Lamb Weston spokesperson stated, adding that “there is no product at the consumer level currently; therefore, there is no risk to consumers.”
While Lamb Weston maintains that most contaminated products never reached store shelves, consumers should still check their freezers and return any affected items for refunds. The company’s assertion that “only 10,000 pounds of 10 million” were affected, according to a sales and marketing manager, seems designed to downplay the significance of the recall. However, this represents their second major plastic contamination incident in recent years, suggesting potential systemic quality control issues.
Pattern of Potato Product Recalls Raises Industry Concerns
This latest incident adds to a troubling pattern of recalls from Lamb Weston in recent years. In 2022, the company recalled over one million pounds of shredded hash browns due to listeria contamination risk. In 2019, they pulled 680,000 pounds of Tater Puffs from distribution after discovering plastic contamination. Just a year earlier in 2018, Lamb Weston recalled over 8,000 cases of hash brown patties—remarkably similar to the current situation—due to plastic fragments found in the product.
The recurring nature of these contamination issues points to potential systemic problems in food production safety protocols. While recalls are a necessary safety mechanism, their frequency at Lamb Weston suggests inadequate preventative measures. The potato product industry as a whole has seen multiple major recalls, including Ore-Ida’s 2019 recall of nearly 85,000 pounds of Spud Bites due to foreign material contamination, highlighting broader food safety challenges in processed potato products that millions of Americans consume regularly.
Broader Health Concerns About Plastic in Food Supply
The Lamb Weston recall underscores growing concerns about plastic contamination in our food supply. Microplastics have become ubiquitous environmental pollutants found in air, water, and food, with emerging research linking them to serious health conditions including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. While the current recall involves larger plastic fragments that pose immediate physical dangers, the incident highlights the vulnerability of our food supply to various forms of plastic contamination throughout production and distribution channels.
