The health alert applies to 29-ounce bags of "Great Value Fully Cooked Dino Shaped Chicken Breast Nuggets" with a best-if-used-by date of Feb. 10, 2027, lot code 0416DPO1215, and establishment number P44164.
The products were shipped to Walmart stores nationwide. No recall was issued because the products are no longer on store shelves, but officials warn some may still be in consumers’ freezers.
“The problem was discovered during routine surveillance sampling conducted by a state partner,” stated the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The USDA also said other products could be added as the investigation continues.
“The amount of lead found in these nuggets could be as much as five times higher than this IRL for children,” the USDA stated.
Any amount of lead is considered unsafe. However, an IRL, or Interim Reference Level, is a temporary guideline for the maximum amount of a substance, such as lead, that is considered unlikely to cause harm, especially in children.
For lead, the FDA’s current IRL for children is 2.2 micrograms per day. This means a child eating these nuggets could ingest 11 micrograms of lead per serving, far exceeding the FDA’s safe reference level.
“Health experts also say these nuggets may be a risk for women who are pregnant or who could become pregnant,” states the USDA.
Consumers are urged not to eat the affected nuggets and should throw them away or return them to the store. For questions, contact the USDA hotline at 888-674-6854.
Health officials say any lead exposure can harm developing brains and nervous systems, especially in pregnant women, infants, and young children. Young children absorb lead more easily than adults, and even low levels may affect their cognitive development and behavior.
The CDC says that parents who suspect their child may have been exposed should contact a health care provider. Blood tests are the most reliable way to detect lead exposure.