Tejal Somvanshi
After receiving reports of wood chips in the product, Hormel Foods has issued a nationwide recall of approximately 256,185 pounds of Dinty Moore Beef Stew. The recall affects 20-ounce metal cans bearing a “BEST BY FEB 2028” date and lot code “T02045,” with establishment number “EST 199G” printed on the can.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has classified this as a Class I recall, indicating “a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.”
The affected beef stew was produced on February 4, 2025, and shipped to retail locations across 44 states and Washington D.C., including major chains such as Walmart and Target.
Three consumer complaints about wood pieces in the stew prompted the recall. While no injuries have been reported so far, the FSIS warns that hard foreign objects in food can cause serious health risks.
“Hard or sharp foreign objects in food may cause traumatic injury, including laceration and perforation of tissues of the mouth, tongue, throat, stomach, and intestine as well as damage to the teeth and gums,” the FDA stated. These objects can also present choking hazards.
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Consumers who purchased the recalled product should not eat it. The FSIS recommends either throwing it away or returning it to the place of purchase for a refund.
A Hormel Foods spokesperson stated, “As a Fortune 500, global branded food company, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards for our products. Out of an abundance of caution, Hormel Foods voluntarily recalls 17,080 cases of a single code date of 20oz Dinty Moore Beef Stew as it may contain extraneous wood material.”
The company emphasized that no other Dinty Moore products are affected by this recall.
Foreign material contamination remains a persistent challenge in the food industry. According to food safety data, there was a 93% increase in FDA food recalls due to foreign materials from January-April 2024 to January-April 2025. In 2024 alone, foreign materials triggered 12 recalls.
Wood can contaminate food products through various means, including wooden pallets used during transportation and storage, or wooden tools and equipment used in food processing.
Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Hormel Foods at 800-523-4635 or the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854. The FSIS also provides an online system for reporting food safety issues through food complaints. fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/eCCF.
