A recall for more than 3,500 cases of salad dressings sold at major retailers across 27 states is now in effect, following the discovery of black plastic material in the granulated onion used in several products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified the recall as Class II, which indicates a moderate health concern but states that any risks are likely to be temporary or reversible.
The recall began on November 4, 2025, when Ventura Foods, headquartered in California, notified the FDA that batches of granulated onion used in their dressings contained fragments of black plastic planting material. This prompted the company to pull 3,556 cases of salad dressings from distribution. The affected products reached the shelves of Costco and Publix, two of the country’s largest grocery chains.
According to the FDA’s enforcement report, the recall covers several branded and private-label dressings. These include Monarch Italian Salad Dressing, Sysco Creamy Poblano Avocado Ranch Dressing & Dip, Ventura Caesar Dressing, Pepper Mill Regal Caesar Dressing, Pepper Mill Creamy Caesar Dressing, Caesar Dressing from the Costco Service Deli and Food Court, and Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch. Some products were used in prepared foods, such as the Costco Caesar Salad and Chicken Sandwich with Caesar Salad.
On November 7, Costco posted a notice to customers, advising anyone who purchased select items with sell-by dates between October 17, 2025, and November 9, 2025, to stop eating these products and return them for a full refund. The company stated: “Costco and Ventura Foods are announcing the recall of select Sell By dates of Item 19927 Caesar Salad and Item 11444 Chicken Sandwich with Caesar Salad due to the possible presence of plastic foreign material in the salad dressing of the items. Affected products are labeled with Sell By Dates between October 17, 2025, and November 9, 2025. Please stop eating the product and return the item to your local Costco for a full refund.” The warning applies to products sold at seven retail customers in 42 locations across the United States and one retailer in Costa Rica.
States Affected and Public Response
The recall impacts a wide swath of the country. The affected states include Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. One retailer in Costa Rica also received the recalled product.
The FDA has said that a Class II recall applies when “use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.” As of today, there are no reports of hospitalizations linked to the recalled dressings.
The recall covers both retail and food service products. Ventura Foods distributed the dressings to a range of customers, including those that use these items in their own prepared foods. Some dressings were sold under the Hidden Valley brand, which is a familiar name to many shoppers. Others were distributed as private-label products or for use in store delis and food courts.
The FDA urges consumers with any of the recalled products to stop eating them and return them to the place of purchase for a refund. Details about the brands and products involved, as well as instructions for returning items, have been shared by both Costco and the FDA. The agency and the companies involved have not received any reports of injuries or illness linked to the recalled dressings so far. For more details about the scope of the recall and public notices, see this report from Food & Wine.
What Comes Next
The recall highlights the impact that small lapses in ingredient sourcing can have on food safety. Investigators traced the black plastic material to the planting process for the onions used in these dressings. Steps have been taken to remove all affected items from store shelves, and retailers are working with the FDA to reach customers who may still have the products at home.
Consumers are encouraged to check their refrigerators for the brands and items listed in the recall, especially if they bought salad dressing or prepared salads at Costco or Publix in the past few months. Retailers are offering refunds on all recalled products.
Food safety experts say that recalls for plastic contamination are less common than those for bacteria or allergens, but they remain an important part of the monitoring process. The FDA continues to review procedures and ingredient sourcing standards to prevent future incidents.
As the investigation continues, the FDA and involved companies plan to update consumers if new information develops. Anyone with questions about the recall can visit the FDA’s recall website or speak with customer service at their place of purchase. For those tracking food safety news in the Northeast, a separate article from Seacoastonline.com provides local details for New Hampshire shoppers.
The recall serves as a reminder to inspect packaged foods and follow public health advisories. As of December 17, no injuries have been reported, and retailers continue to monitor the situation to prevent further risk to consumers.
