Lay’s Potato Chips Recalled in 2 States Over Undisclosed Milk: Are Food Recalls Increasing in 2024?

Due to an undeclared allergen — in this case, milk — being present in its Lay’s Classic Potato Chips, Frito-Lay has issued a recall of its product in two upper Northwest states, as NBC Chicago reported.

The recall applies to chips sold beginning Nov. 3 and concerns the 13-ounce bags of the classic (or plain) salted variety.

Frito-Lay Pulls Lay’s Classic Potato Chips in Oregon and Washington in Latest Food Recall

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the chips in question have a “Guaranteed Fresh” date of Feb. 11, 2025, and are marked with one of the two following manufacturing codes: 6462307xx, or 6463307xx.

The FDA has advised that if any consumers have a sensitivity or allergy to milk, they should immediately discard the product. For those who may have further questions or concerns, Frito-Lay Consumer Relations can be reached at 1-800-352-4477.

Those who do have a serious allergy or sensitivity could face “a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction,” if they consume the product, the administration stated.

Thus far, no reports of serious adverse effects materializing as a result of consumption have been reported.

Food Recalls May Seem Prevalent, But Statistically Average for 2024

As Prevention outlined, it may seem as though there have been more food recalls than average this year — cucumbers, ground beef, and carrots all having seen large-scale recalls in 2024 — but statistically speaking, this year’s numbers are not particularly notable. Prevention quoted Wade Syers, D.Soc.Sci., a statewide Michigan State University Extension food safety specialist, on the subject.

“According to the data published by the FDA, there have not been more food and beverage recalls compared to last year,” Syers said.

On the other hand, enhanced public scrutiny, supply chain issues, understaffing issues, and advances in food safety inspection protocols could be the impetus behind an increased number of headlines concerning food recalls in recent times.

As Public Good News (PGN) reported, the inspection and reporting apparatus surrounding food recalls has become much more sophisticated in recent years, leading to more public exposure — and accurate reporting — when these events occur.

“There’s always been outbreaks that occur where we really never figure out exactly what is [causing them],” Martin Bucknavage, senior extension program specialist at Penn State University’s Department of Food Science, told PGN. “That’s always been the case, but I think now we’re seeing that investigators, because of the technology [that’s now available], are able to identify the source of these.”