A nationwide recall affecting tens of thousands of cases of frozen tater tots has raised new concerns about food safety and quality control in mass-produced frozen foods. McCain Foods USA Inc., one of the largest frozen food manufacturers in the country, has issued a voluntary recall of select tater tot products after discovering they may be contaminated with hard plastic fragments. The recall impacts products distributed across 26 U.S. states, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The recall was initiated after reports indicated that foreign material — specifically pieces of clear, rigid plastic — may be present in the affected products. While no injuries or illnesses have been reported at this time, officials warn that consuming food contaminated with plastic can pose serious health risks, particularly for children.
Products Included in the Recall
The recall applies to nearly 38,900 cases of frozen potato products distributed to both retail and food-service locations. The affected items include:
Ore-Ida Tater Tots
- Net weight: 30-pound bags
- Item number: OIF00215A
- UPC: 1 00 72714 00215 8
- Affected batch codes:
1005479808, 1005477924, 1005478883, 1005480444, 1005480875,
1005481627, 1005481770
Sysco Imperial Potato Tater Barrels
- Packaging: 6 bags of 5 pounds each
- Item number: 1000006067
- UPC: 1 07 34730 62740 0
- Affected batch codes:
1005482717, 1005483735, 1005484702, 1005485462, 1005485660
These products were shipped primarily to commercial food-service providers, including restaurants, cafeterias, and institutional kitchens, but they may also have reached consumers through bulk or warehouse-style purchases.
States Affected
According to recall notices, the impacted products were distributed in 26 states, including:
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Because frozen products often have long shelf lives, consumers may still have recalled tater tots stored in home freezers weeks or months after purchase.
Why Plastic Contamination Is Dangerous
While plastic contamination may sound less alarming than bacterial outbreaks, foreign objects in food can still cause serious harm. Hard plastic fragments pose choking hazards and may lead to cuts or internal injuries to the mouth, throat, stomach, or intestines if swallowed. Children are considered especially vulnerable due to their smaller airways and digestive tracts.
The FDA has classified this recall as a Class II recall, meaning that consumption of the product could cause temporary or medically reversible health effects, though the risk of serious injury is considered low. Even so, officials stress that any food suspected of containing foreign materials should not be eaten.
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers and food-service operators who may have purchased or received the recalled products are urged to take the following steps immediately:
- Do not eat the affected tater tots under any circumstances
- Check packaging carefully for item numbers, UPCs, and batch codes listed in the recall
- Dispose of the product safely or return it to the place of purchase for a refund
- Keep the product away from children and pets while determining whether it is part of the recall
Anyone who believes they may have been injured after consuming the recalled product should seek medical attention and report the incident to the FDA’s MedWatch system.
A Broader Food Safety Context
This recall comes amid a series of recent food safety alerts involving foreign materials, bacterial contamination, and undeclared allergens. While modern food manufacturing relies heavily on automation and quality control systems, recalls like this highlight how even small breakdowns in equipment or packaging processes can lead to widespread distribution of unsafe products.
McCain Foods has not publicly disclosed how the plastic contamination occurred, but such incidents are often linked to damaged processing equipment or packaging materials entering the production line.
Bottom Line
Although no injuries have been reported, the recall of frozen tater tots across more than two dozen states serves as an important reminder for consumers to regularly check recall notices and inspect frozen foods before preparation. Plastic contamination, while less visible than bacterial hazards, can still cause significant harm. Consumers are advised to err on the side of caution and discard or return any affected products immediately.
