USDA Issues Public Health Alert for Dinosaur-Shaped Chicken Nuggets Over Possible Lead Contamination

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, issued a public health alert for frozen, dinosaur-shaped, ready-to-eat chicken nuggets sold at Walmart locations nationwide after routine sampling found the products may be contaminated with unsafe levels of lead.

FSIS announced the alert April 1, 2026, in Washington, D.C., saying the nuggets were produced Feb. 10, 2026, and that a recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase. The agency said it remains concerned some of the product may still be in consumers’ freezers.

The alert covers 29-ounce plastic bags containing about 36 “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” printed on the back of the bag.

“These items were shipped to Walmart locations nationwide,” FSIS said.

The issue was discovered during routine surveillance sampling conducted by a state partner, FSIS said. The agency said it is continuing to investigate and advised consumers to check back because additional products could be added.

FSIS warned that lead exposure is especially dangerous for pregnant women, infants and young children, and said there is no safe amount of lead exposure. The agency cited Food and Drug Administration guidance that provides an interim reference level of 2.2 micrograms, and said the amount of lead found in the nuggets “could be as much as five times higher than this IRL for children.” FSIS also said health experts indicate the nuggets may pose a risk for women who are pregnant or who could become pregnant.

FSIS urged consumers who purchased the products not to eat them and said the nuggets should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.

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