Elevated risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Lay’s Potato Chip recall: Potential or Undeclared Allergen – Milk

Recall published 1+ years ago

Potential or Undeclared Allergen – Milk

Lay’s Snacks — recalled snacks
Photo published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Undeclared milk

The product contains milk that the packaging never declared. If nobody in your home avoids milk, there is no health reason to throw it away — though the refund still stands.

What the notice says: Those with an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the recalled product.

Why it matters: The label does not declare milk, so anyone who reads labels to avoid it has no way of knowing it is in there. For people without that allergy the product is safe to eat.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

An undeclared allergen is a danger only to people allergic or intolerant to that ingredient. For everyone else the food is safe. Reactions range from an itchy mouth, hives, stomach cramps or vomiting through to anaphylaxis — swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, a tight chest, wheezing, a sudden drop in blood pressure or collapse. If anaphylaxis is suspected, use an epinephrine auto-injector straight away and call 911, even if the symptoms seem to settle, because a second wave can follow hours later.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
December 16, 2024
Risk level
Elevated risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Lay’s
Product type
Snacks
Distribution
Oregon, Washington

Products covered by this recall

Potato Chip

What the company announced

PLANO, Texas – December 16, 2024 – Frito-Lay today issued a recall of a limited number of 13 oz. bags of Lay’s Classic Potato Chips that may contain undeclared milk, after being alerted through a consumer contact. Those with an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the recalled product.

The product included in this recall was distributed to certain retail stores and e-commerce distributors in Oregon and Washington. Consumers would have been able to purchase these chips as early as November 3, 2024.

No allergic reactions related to this matter have been reported to date.

No other Lay’s products, flavors, sizes or variety packs are recalled.

The recalled product is in a flexible bag, and the specific information is listed below:

  • Product Description: Lay’s Classic Potato Chips · Size: 13 oz. (368.5 grams) · UPC: 28400 31041 · Code Date & Manufacturing Code: Must have both “Guaranteed Fresh” date of 11 FEB 2025 AND one of the following the Manufacturing Codes 6462307xx OR 6463307xx · Representative Image: See Image Below

If consumers have an allergy or sensitivity to milk, they should not consume the product and discard it immediately. Frito-Lay has informed the FDA of this action.

Consumers with the product described above can contact Frito-Lay Consumer Relations at 1-800-352-4477 (9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CST, Monday-Friday).

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 2 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 13 oz
  • 368.5 grams

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Milk

Lay’s — The product contains milk that the packaging never declared. If nobody in your home avoids milk, there is no health reason to throw it away — though the refund still stands.

  1. If anyone in your household avoids milk, stop serving the product immediately and check whether any was used in food already prepared.
  2. Make sure the household epinephrine auto-injector is where it should be and in date, if someone here carries one.
  3. If a reaction has already happened, report it to the FDA through its consumer complaint coordinator so the case is attached to this recall.
  4. Tell anyone else who eats from your kitchen, including childminders, schools and anyone catering an event you contributed to.

Getting a refund without the pack

The commonest reason people skip the refund is that they have already thrown the item away. That rarely matters.

  • A photo of the label and lot code is accepted by most grocers, and so is a card statement line showing the purchase.
  • Store credit is often offered first. You can ask for the original payment method instead, and it is normally granted.
  • No photo either? Ask anyway. Grocery chains settle recall refunds at the service desk because disputing them costs more than paying them.
  • For a multi-pack or a case, ask for the full purchase price rather than a per-unit figure — the recall covers what you paid.

Remedy named in the notice: If consumers have an allergy or sensitivity to milk, they should not consume the product and discard it immediately.

Company contact: Frito-Lay — Consumers: Frito-Lay Consumer Relations, 1-800-352-4477

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Lay’s snacks recalled?

Potential or Undeclared Allergen – Milk Those with an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the recalled product.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

The notice does not publish package codes for this recall. Compare the product name, size and the purchase window against the official FDA — Company recall announcements record, and contact the company if you are unsure.

What should I do with it right now?

If anyone in your household avoids milk, stop serving the product immediately and check whether any was used in food already prepared.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: If consumers have an allergy or sensitivity to milk, they should not consume the product and discard it immediately.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Oregon, Washington.

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