‘Pieces of metal’ found in beef jerky sold in California. What to know about recall
Beef jerky sticks shipped to California stores are being recalled due to potential contamination.
Idaho Smokehouse Partners, LLC, in Shelley, Idaho, recalled approximately 29,541 pounds of ready-to-eat beef stick products that may be “contaminated with foreign material, specifically metal,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced in a news release on Thursday, March 20.
The potentially tainted snacks were “shipped to retail locations in California and Illinois,” the release said.
Chomps, the brand behind the meat sticks, also announced an “internal recall” in response to consumer complaints.
“After a thorough investigation in coordination with our third-party manufacturing partner and under USDA oversight, Chomps is voluntarily recalling select lots of Original Beef Sticks and Original Turkey Sticks,” the company said in a March 20 news release.
In recent weeks, California consumers have also been affected by recalls of cheesecake, oyster crackers and canned tuna.
Here’s what to know:
Which food products are being recalled?
According to Chomps and the USDA, the recall affects 1.15-ounce vacuum-sealed packages of Chomps Original Beef Sticks and Original Turkey Sticks snacks, as well as 8-count and 12-count pouches of Original Beef snacks.
The foods affected by the recall were produced from Jan. 13 to Jan. 15, the USDA said in its release.
They were “packaged at a single facility” between Jan. 16, through Jan. 23, according to Chomps.
Beef sticks impacted by the recall have an expiration date of Feb. 10, 2026, and the establishment number “6220A” ink-jetted on the package, the USDA said.
According to Chomps, products with the following lot codes are affected:
- 25016
- 25017
- 25018
- 25020
- 25021
- 25022
Turkey sticks affected by the recall have an expiration date of Feb. 17, 2026 and a lot code of 25022 or 25023, Chomps said. The establishment number of the impacted lots is P6220A.
On its website, Chomps describes its Original Beef sticks as a “best seller” with a “slightly smoky flavor.”
Why is beef and turkey jerky being recalled?
Idaho Smokehouse Partners told federal officials that it received two complaints from consumers reporting that “pieces of metal were found in the product,” the release said.
“There have been no confirmed reports of injury due to consumption of these products,” the Food Safety and Inspection Service said, adding that anyone worried about an injury should contact a health care provider.
Chomps said the recall was a “precautionary measure out of an abundance of caution.”
“Our consumers are, and always will be, our No. 1 priority,” the company said.
Where are Chomps snacks sold in California?
Although the release didn’t specify which California stores carried the potentially tainted products, Chomps products are sold by online retailer Amazon and grocery stores including Foods Co., Ralphs, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Walmart and Whole Foods, the company said on its site.
What should I do if I bought recalled food?
If you bought the recalled Chomps beef sticks, don’t eat them.
“Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them,” Food Safety and Inspection Service said.
Instead, throw away the recalled food or return it to “the place of purchase,” the federal agency said.
If you have questions about the recall, you can call Idaho Smokehouse Partners at 208-227-5282 or call Chomps at 855-636-1150.
For food safety questions, call the USDA’s toll-free Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or email MPHotline@usda.gov.
You can report a problem with a meat, poultry or egg product via the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System at foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF.
This story was originally published March 24, 2025 at 2:32 PM.
