Dinty Moore beef stew, a pantry staple for many American families, is now at the center of a massive nationwide recall after customers discovered pieces of wood in their meals.
Key Takeaways
- Hormel Foods is recalling over 256,000 pounds of Dinty Moore canned beef stew due to potential wood contamination.
- Affected products are in 20-oz cans with “BEST BY FEB 2028” dates and lot code “T02045” with establishment number “EST 199G”.
- The recall follows three consumer complaints, though no injuries have been reported yet.
- Consumers should not eat the affected products and should return them to the place of purchase or dispose of them.
Widespread Recall Affects Quarter Million Pounds of Product
Hormel Foods Corporation has initiated a significant recall affecting 256,185 pounds of its popular Dinty Moore canned beef stew products. The action comes after multiple consumers reported finding wood pieces in their stew, raising serious food safety concerns. The affected products were manufactured on February 4, 2025, at the company’s Tucker, Georgia facility and have been distributed to retail locations throughout the United States. This recall highlights ongoing concerns about quality control in food processing facilities and the importance of consumer vigilance.
“Hormel Foods Corporation, a Tucker, Ga. establishment, is recalling 256,185 pounds of canned beef stew product that may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically wood, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today,” said (FSIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
How to Identify Affected Products
Consumers should check their pantries for 20-ounce cans of “Dinty Moore BEEF STEW” with a “BEST BY FEB 2028” date stamped on the packaging. The affected products can be specifically identified by the lot code “T02045,” which in some cases may include an additional digit. Additionally, all recalled products bear the establishment number “EST 199G” inside the USDA mark of inspection. While specific retail locations haven’t been disclosed, the products were distributed nationwide, making this a concern for consumers in all states. The widespread nature of this recall underscores the potential magnitude of the contamination issue.
Origin of the Contamination and Response
The recall was triggered after three separate consumer complaints about wood materials found in the canned beef stew. So far, there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions or injuries resulting from consumption of these products. However, food safety experts warn that foreign materials like wood can pose significant health risks including choking hazards, dental damage, and potential internal injuries if consumed. Hormel Foods is conducting an internal investigation to determine how wood materials entered the production line and what additional quality control measures may be necessary to prevent similar incidents in the future.
What Consumers Should Do
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has categorized this as a Class II recall, indicating a moderate health hazard situation where adverse health consequences are remote or unlikely. Nevertheless, consumers are strongly advised not to consume any of the affected products. Anyone who has purchased the recalled Dinty Moore beef stew should either discard it or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.
For consumers with broader food safety questions, the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline is available While Washington state health officials have indicated they aren’t conducting formal recall verification activities, they have notified local jurisdictions about the situation. This highlights the often-fragmented approach to food safety monitoring across different government agencies and jurisdictions, potentially leaving gaps in consumer protection,” said President Trump, has previously advocated for streamlining food safety regulations while maintaining high standards of protection for American consumers.
