California Dairies Salmonella Recall Expands to Dozens of Products — 2.7 Million Pounds of Powdered Milk Affected
A salmonella contamination at California Dairies Inc. — which supplies 40% of U.S. dried milk powder — has cascaded into recalls across dozens of consumer brands, from Ghirardelli to Zapp's to Fisher nuts.
By 411 Press Newsroom3 min read
One dairy cooperative's contamination problem is now a nationwide food safety event.
On April 20, 2026, California Dairies Inc. recalled 2,679,357 pounds of low heat nonfat dry milk and 19,841 pounds of buttermilk powder due to potential salmonella contamination. CDI is a dairy cooperative that supplies approximately 40% of the U.S. market for dried milk powder.
That market share means CDI's powder is an ingredient in products most consumers would never associate with a dairy recall: chocolate powders, snack mixes, potato chips, seasoning blends, trail mix, and frozen foods. As downstream manufacturers tested their products and found CDI-sourced powder in their supply chains, the recall cascaded.
The Expanding Recall List
As of mid-May 2026, the recall has expanded to include products from:
- Ghirardelli — chocolate powders
- Zapp's — potato chips with dairy-based seasonings
- Fisher — nut and snack mix products
- John B. Sanfilippo & Son — snack mix products
The list continues to grow as manufacturers trace CDI powder through their supply chains. The FDA's recall page for this event is being updated as new downstream recalls are announced.
No confirmed illnesses have been reported as of the FDA's most recent update. But salmonella contamination in a bulk ingredient that reaches this many end products creates an exposure window that is difficult to quantify.
How One Supplier Contaminates Dozens of Products
This recall illustrates a structural vulnerability in the U.S. food supply: ingredient concentration. When 40% of the nation's dried milk powder comes from a single cooperative, a contamination event at that cooperative does not affect one product. It affects the entire downstream supply chain.
The recall started with bulk powdered milk — a product consumers never buy directly. It reached consumer shelves through ingredient pathways that most people do not think about when they pick up a bag of chips or a container of cocoa powder.
This is not a problem with one company's hygiene practices. It is a systemic risk created by supply chain consolidation. The fewer suppliers that dominate a commodity ingredient market, the wider the blast radius when something goes wrong.
Salmonella: The Risk
Salmonella causes fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Most healthy adults recover within four to seven days without medical treatment. But for young children, elderly individuals, and people with compromised immune systems, the infection can be severe or fatal.
In the United States, salmonella causes an estimated 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths annually, according to the CDC.
What Consumers Should Do
Check the FDA's recall page for the full list of affected products, which is being updated as new downstream recalls are announced. If you purchased any product on the recall list, do not consume it. Return it to the place of purchase for a refund or discard it.
Pay particular attention to snack products, chocolate or cocoa mixes, and seasoning-heavy items purchased between March and May 2026.
For the latest on FDA food recalls, visit the 411 Press FDA recall tracker or the product recall hub.
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