Nearly 23,000 Pounds of Popular Comfort Foods Recalled Over Metal Sliver Contamination

A Customer Complaint Sparked a Major Recall

A consumer complaint about a metal piece found in a fully cooked product set off a chain of events that led to a sweeping recall — and an internal review by Ukrop's Homestyle Foods turned up more of the same problem, with a small sliver of aluminum discovered in the baking pans used to prepare the products. The result: a significant food safety action affecting nearly two dozen thousand pounds of beloved regional comfort food.

Ukrop's Homestyle Foods, a Richmond, Virginia establishment, is recalling approximately 22,880 pounds of baked spaghetti and chicken cobbler products that may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically metal slivers, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). A similar metal fragment was also found in a Chicken Cobbler product on Wednesday, July 29.

What Products Are Affected

The recalled products include 62.4-ounce bulk pans and 4.8-ounce single-serving trays of Ukrop's Baked Spaghetti, along with 48-ounce family-size pans and 11.6-ounce single-serving trays of Ukrop's Chicken Cobbler. Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce and a Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce Kit are also part of the broader company recall, with best-by dates ranging from July 6 through August 3.

The baked spaghetti and chicken cobbler items were produced from July 1, 2026, through July 29, 2026. All affected products carry "best by" dates ranging from July 8 through August 5. These items were shipped to retail locations in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, the Department of Defense, and through online sales. If you purchased any of these products recently, the best-by date on the label is the quickest way to determine if what's in your refrigerator or freezer is affected.

What Consumers Should Do Right Now

FSIS is concerned that some product may still be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers, and consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. Consumers who purchased the recalled products, including those stored in freezers, should throw them away or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

No injuries have been reported in connection with the recalled products, but the agency advises that anyone concerned about an injury should contact a healthcare provider. Metal fragments in food can pose serious risks — including cuts to the mouth, throat, or digestive tract — making it critical not to dismiss the warning simply because the pieces may be small.

The Source of the Problem and What Happens Next

Ukrop's said the aluminum sliver was found during a routine internal review of baking pans, and the baking pan supplier has since been notified and has taken steps to remove all potentially affected pan lots from distribution. Retailers have also been notified and are removing the recalled items from shelves.

The fact that this recall was triggered first by a consumer — not a company or government inspection — is a reminder of how vital public vigilance is to the food safety system. Ukrop's Homestyle Foods initiated this as a voluntary recall , a move that reflects responsibly on the company but also underscores that the system depends on customers speaking up when something seems wrong. As the investigation into the pan supplier continues, shoppers should stay alert for any updates that could expand the scope of affected products.