A significant food safety alert has been issued in the United States, with thousands of gallons of popular salad dressings being pulled from shelves over contamination fears. The recall, initiated by manufacturer Ventura Foods, affects products sold across 42 states and multiple major retailers.
Scope and Details of the Recall
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed that Ventura Foods recalled a total of 3,556 cases of its salad dressings last month. The action was prompted by the discovery of a potential foreign object within the products. Specifically, the contamination involves black plastic planting material found in the dressings' granulated onion ingredient.
On December 4, the recall's severity was escalated to a Class II classification. This FDA designation indicates that consuming the affected product could lead to temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.
Which Products Are Affected?
The recalled items, which were distributed to seven different retailers and food courts, include several well-known varieties. Consumers are advised to check their refrigerators for the following dressings manufactured by Ventura Foods:
- Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch
- Caesar Dressing from Costco Service Deli and Costco Food Court
- Pepper Mill Creamy Caesar Dressing
- Pepper Mill Regal Caesar Dressing
- Italian Salad Dressing
- Creamy Poblano Avocado Ranch Dressing and Dip
- Ventura Caesar Dressing
The affected products have Sell By Dates ranging from October 17, 2025, to November 9, 2025. Specific products can be identified using their unique SKU numbers provided by the company.
Consumer Advice and Related Recalls
Although there have been no reported illnesses linked to the contaminated dressings to date, authorities are urging caution. Consumers who have purchased any of the listed products are instructed to dispose of them immediately or return them to their point of purchase for a full refund.
This latest salad dressing recall follows a separate action by Costco just one month prior. In November, the warehouse retailer removed two Caesar salad products supplied by Ventura Foods from its shelves. The recall notice cited the "presence of plastic foreign material in the salad dressing of these items." The involved products were a Caesar Salad (Item Number 19927) and a Chicken Sandwich with Caesar Salad (Item Number 11444).
In a separate incident during October, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages voluntarily recalled three packages of Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, and Sprite in specific areas of Texas. That recall was initiated because some cans were found to potentially contain small metal fragments, posing an internal injury risk if swallowed. A company spokesperson stated all affected products were removed from stores by October 10 as a precautionary measure.
The FDA and Ventura Foods continue to monitor the situation and advise the public to stay informed through official recall notices.
