WASHINGTON — Federal food safety officials are warning consumers to check their freezers after dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets sold at Walmart stores nationwide were flagged for possible lead contamination.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert for certain 29-ounce bags of Great Value fully cooked dino-shaped chicken breast nuggets produced Feb. 10, 2026.
The alert applies to bags with a “best if used by” date of Feb. 10, 2027, lot code 0416DPO1215 and establishment number P44164 printed on the back.
Officials said the product is no longer available in stores, so a recall was not requested. However, some packages may still be in home freezers.
The issue was discovered during routine testing by a state partner. According to FSIS, the nuggets may contain lead levels up to five times higher than the Food and Drug Administration’s interim reference level for children.
Health officials warn there is no safe level of lead exposure. Lead can be especially harmful to pregnant women, infants and young children, potentially affecting brain development and the nervous system.
Consumers are urged not to eat the product and should throw it away or return it to the place of purchase.
Anyone with questions can contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or submit a complaint online through the agency’s food safety reporting system.