Deli Express Sandwiches Recalled Nationwide for Foreign Matter, Affects Department of Defense

Consumers are urged not to eat the recalled sandwiches.

Published: 10/28/2025, 5:29:04 PM EDT

Deli Express Sandwiches Recalled Nationwide for Foreign Matter, Affects Department of Defense — Deli Express barbecue pulled pork sandwiches on sesame buns have been recalled nationwide over concerns they may contain plastic. (Courtesy of FSIS)

Federal food safety officials announced on Oct. 27 a Class I recall—the highest risk level—of nearly 128,000 pounds of pulled pork sandwiches produced by E.A. Sween Company of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, due to possible foreign matter contamination.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said the recall affects “approximately 127,887 pounds of a pulled pork sandwich product that may be contaminated with pieces of plastic.” The sandwiches were produced on various dates between Jan. 13 and Oct. 15, 2025, and distributed to retail locations nationwide, including the Department of Defense.

The recall is for the 5.5-ounce paper-wrapped “Deli EXPRESS BBQ PULLED PORK on a sesame bun” sandwiches, bearing establishment number “EST. 2451” inside the USDA inspection mark. The products were sold at convenience stores, grocery stores, and mass retail outlets across the continental United States, Hawaii, and Guam.

Some recalled packages feature a green “NEW” bubble in the top-right corner of the label.

On Oct. 25, E.A. Sween said the contamination was discovered after consumers reported finding plastic in the sandwiches. “The plastic originated from the gallon plastic barbecue bottles used in production,” the company determined. No injuries or illnesses have been confirmed, but the company warned that the plastic could pose a choking hazard if swallowed.

Foreign matter in food includes anything that doesn’t belong, like plastic, metal, or even bits of bone, that can accidentally get mixed in the food during harvesting, processing, or packaging.

According to a study on the detection and prevention of foreign material in food, about 10 percent of food recalls over the past two decades were caused by these contaminants, with plastic being the most common foreign material found in food.

“E.A. Sween is taking this action for the safety of our consumers,” the company said in a separate press release on their website, adding that retailers “have been instructed to remove affected products from store shelves and inventory immediately.

Consumers are urged not to eat the recalled sandwiches. Instead, they should “throw away or return [them] to the place of purchase,” according to FSIS. Anyone who may have consumed the product and is concerned about injury should contact a healthcare provider, the FSIS stated.

E.A. Sween, a family-owned company for more than 65 years, produces on-the-go packaged foods, including sandwiches, wraps, and burritos under its Deli Express brand. Many of their products have a shelf life of up to 30 days.

Consumers with questions can call the company’s hotline at 1-800-328-8184. Food safety inquiries may also be directed to the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline.