A large-scale food safety recall involving frozen potato products has been significantly expanded, with federal regulators now warning that roughly 650,000 pounds of tater tots may be affected by contamination concerns.
The update, issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, expands an earlier January recall and now includes tens of thousands of additional cases of Ore-Ida and Sonic-branded products manufactured by McCain Foods.
Scope of the Expanded Recall
The revised recall now covers:
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21,557 cases of Ore-Ida Tater Tots (30-pound foodservice cases)
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67 cases of Sonic Tots
Combined with the initial January recall, the total volume now reaches approximately 650,000 pounds of product.
The earlier recall had already included:
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About 21,200 cases of Ore-Ida Tater Tots
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Approximately 17,600 cases of Sysco Imperial Potato Tater Barrels
The expansion means more institutional buyers—restaurants, cafeterias, and foodservice distributors—may be affected across at least 28 states, including Alabama.
Why the Products Were Recalled
According to federal safety officials, the affected tater tots may contain small plastic fragments introduced during production.
The FDA warned that these fragments pose multiple hazards:
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Choking risk
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Mouth or dental injury
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Potential internal injury if swallowed
Although no injuries have been reported so far, the agency categorized the situation as a significant physical contamination risk that warranted broad corrective action.
Plastic contamination in processed foods typically occurs due to equipment wear, packaging defects, or processing line failures, all of which are taken seriously in large-scale manufacturing environments.
Distribution Details: Not Sold in Retail Stores
One key detail in this recall is that the Ore-Ida products involved were not sold directly to consumers in grocery stores.
Instead, the FDA clarified that these specific tater tots were distributed exclusively to foodservice accounts, such as:
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Restaurants
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Institutional kitchens
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Catering services
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Bulk distributors
That means individuals are unlikely to have purchased the affected Ore-Ida items directly from supermarket shelves.
However, consumers may still have been exposed indirectly by eating at restaurants or foodservice locations that used the contaminated batches.
Product Identification Information
Foodservice operators and distributors have been urged to carefully review inventory for the following product identifiers:
Ore-Ida Tater Tots
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Item number: OIF00215A
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Packaging: clear, unlabeled poly bags
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Batch codes:
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1005475084
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1005476076
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1005477012
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1005498350
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Sonic Tots
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Item number: SON00543
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Batch code: 1005486334
Any business or institution in possession of these products has been instructed to remove them from circulation immediately and follow standard recall procedures.
Manufacturer and Brand Context
The affected products were produced by McCain Foods, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of frozen potato products. McCain supplies a wide range of branded and private-label items used across the foodservice industry.
The Ore-Ida brand—widely recognized in North America for frozen potato products—is often produced under contract manufacturing agreements, while Sonic Tots are typically associated with supply chains serving the Sonic Drive-In restaurant network.
While recalls of this size are relatively uncommon, they are not unprecedented in the frozen food sector, where production volumes are extremely high and supply chains are complex.
FDA Oversight and Recall Classification
The FDA monitors recalls under a structured risk classification system. While the agency has not publicly elevated this recall to its highest tier, the presence of foreign material contamination places it into a category that requires rapid removal and public notification.
The agency’s role includes:
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Coordinating with manufacturers
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Tracking distribution chains
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Ensuring affected products are removed
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Communicating risk to the public
The expansion of the recall indicates that additional production lots were identified during follow-up inspections or internal quality checks.
No Injuries Reported—But Risk Remains
So far, no injuries have been linked to the affected products. However, food safety experts caution that absence of reported harm does not eliminate the risk.
Foreign object contamination incidents often go underreported unless injuries are severe or immediately linked to the product.
The FDA and McCain Foods are continuing to monitor for any adverse reports as the recall progresses.
What Foodservice Operators Should Do
Restaurants, cafeterias, and distributors that may have received the affected items should:
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Check all inventory immediately against item and batch codes
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Segregate and quarantine any matching products
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Stop serving or distributing the affected items
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Follow return or disposal instructions from suppliers
Failure to remove contaminated product could expose businesses to liability risks and public health violations.
What Consumers Should Know
Although these products were not sold at retail, consumers who recently ate tater tots at restaurants may want to be aware of the recall.
If you suspect you consumed a contaminated product and experience:
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Mouth injury
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Unusual throat pain
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Difficulty swallowing
you should seek medical advice promptly and report the incident to local health authorities.
Ongoing Monitoring
The FDA has indicated that the recall remains active and under review, meaning further updates are possible if additional affected batches are discovered.
For now, the agency emphasizes that the recall is precautionary but necessary, given the potential severity of foreign object contamination.
Bottom Line
The expansion of this tater tot recall to 650,000 pounds of product highlights the scale at which food safety issues can arise in industrial supply chains.
While no injuries have been reported, the presence of plastic fragments represents a clear safety hazard—particularly in products widely served in institutional settings.
Foodservice providers are expected to act quickly to remove affected stock, while regulators continue to monitor the situation to ensure that contaminated products are fully eliminated from circulation.
Emily Johnson is a critically acclaimed essayist and novelist known for her thought-provoking works centered on feminism, women’s rights, and modern relationships. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Emily grew up with a deep love of books, often spending her afternoons at her local library. She went on to study literature and gender studies at UCLA, where she became deeply involved in activism and began publishing essays in campus journals. Her debut essay collection, Voices Unbound, struck a chord with readers nationwide for its fearless exploration of gender dynamics, identity, and the challenges faced by women in contemporary society. Emily later transitioned into fiction, writing novels that balance compelling storytelling with social commentary. Her protagonists are often strong, multidimensional women navigating love, ambition, and the struggles of everyday life, making her a favorite among readers who crave authentic, relatable narratives. Critics praise her ability to merge personal intimacy with universal themes. Off the page, Emily is an advocate for women in publishing, leading workshops that encourage young female writers to embrace their voices. She lives in Seattle with her partner and two rescue cats, where she continues to write, teach, and inspire a new generation of storytellers.
