My Wife’s Slaw Recalls Original and Jalapeno Heat Coleslaw Over Potential Foodborne Illness Risk

ZANESVILLE, Ohio (May 11, 2026) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that My Wife’s Slaw is voluntarily recalling its Original and Jalapeno Heat flavored coleslaw products because the company produced the items without verified safety inspections, creating the potential for microorganism growth and foodborne illness. According to the FDA, the company sold the recalled coleslaw products nationwide through online orders and shipped them directly to consumers. So far, regulators said no illnesses have been reported; however, they urged consumers to stop using the products immediately.

My Wife’s Slaw recall: quick summary

According to the FDA, the recall affects all Original and Jalapeno Heat flavored coleslaw products that My Wife’s Slaw sold in 8 oz and 16 oz glass mason jars between April 1, 2026, and April 28, 2026. Furthermore, the agency confirmed that the company produced the products without completing required inspection and safety verification procedures, which caused regulators to classify the items as adulterated. As a result, consumers nationwide may have purchased the affected products through direct online sales. In response, the company advises customers to discontinue use and safely dispose of any recalled jars. At this time, no illnesses have been linked to the products.

What happened?

The FDA said My Wife’s Slaw initiated the voluntary recall after the company discovered that it had manufactured its Original and Jalapeno Heat flavored coleslaw products “without the benefit of inspection” and that it could not verify safety parameters. The company announced the recall on May 5, 2026, and the FDA later published the notice on May 7.

Meanwhile, My Wife’s Slaw operates as a small Ohio-based food business that sells coleslaw products directly to consumers online. According to the agency, the company packaged the affected products in 8 oz and 16 oz glass mason jars and distributed them nationwide through direct shipping orders.

In its recall alert, the FDA stated that “all products that have been produced are being recalled.” Additionally, regulators warned that “individuals exhibiting signs or symptoms of foodborne illness should contact a physician immediately.”

Although the recall notice did not identify a specific pathogen, the FDA said the concern centers on possible microorganism growth due to missing safety verification procedures during production.

Affected products

Brand	Product	Size	UPC	Best by date	Issue	Affected states or zones
My Wife’s Slaw	Original flavored coleslaw	8 oz and 16 oz jars	Not listed	All products made April 1-April 28, 2026	Potential microorganism growth	Nationwide
My Wife’s Slaw	Jalapeno Heat flavored coleslaw	8 oz and 16 oz jars	Not listed	All products made April 1-April 28, 2026	Potential microorganism growth	Nationwide

What caused the issue?

According to the FDA notice, regulators classified the recalled coleslaw products as adulterated because My Wife’s Slaw produced them without required inspection oversight and without verified safety parameters. Although the agency did not identify a specific bacterium or contaminant, officials warned that unverified production controls can increase the risk of harmful microorganism growth in refrigerated food products.

In addition, contaminated prepared foods can cause foodborne illnesses with symptoms that include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever. More importantly, young children, older adults, pregnant individuals, and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of severe illness or complications.

At the time of the announcement, the agency confirmed that no illnesses had been reported in connection with the recall. Nevertheless, company officials advised consumers who experience symptoms after consuming the product to seek medical attention promptly.

Questions you might have

Here’s what you should do

• Stop using the recalled coleslaw products immediately
• Dispose of the product safely instead of consuming it
• Check glass mason jar labels for My Wife’s Slaw Original or Jalapeno Heat products
• Look for products manufactured between April 1 and April 28, 2026
• Contact Jesse Withrow at 740-280-2141 or [email protected] with questions or refund concerns

Behind the brand

My Wife’s Slaw operates as a small Ohio-based food company that specializes in homemade-style coleslaw products and sells them directly to consumers online. In addition, the company distributes its products through its own online storefront and ships them nationwide.

In its recall notice, the company stated that it is voluntarily recalling all potentially affected products and advised customers to discontinue use immediately. Furthermore, the notice indicated that the company is cooperating with regulators throughout the recall process.

Other relevant recalls

This recall comes amid broader concerns surrounding food safety verification and refrigerated prepared foods. Similar recalls involving improperly controlled production environments and contamination risks have affected multiple food categories over the past year, including Pork King Good’s recall of Sour Cream & Onion Pork Rinds and seasoning over potential Salmonella contamination, a2 Milk Company’s recall of a2 Platinum Infant Formula due to possible cereulide toxin contamination, and Liquid Blenz Corp’s recall of Good Brain Tonic over a potential botulism risk. Retailers have also faced similar issues, including Tops Friendly Markets’s recall of Christopher Ranch and Garland peeled garlic products because of potential botulism contamination concerns.

Eran Mizrahi, CEO of Source86, said recalls like this highlight the importance of transparency and supplier accountability throughout the food supply chain.

“Food safety isn’t just about compliance; it’s about trust. Every recall reminds us how vital it is to maintain transparency, rigorous checks, and supplier accountability,” Mizrahi said.

Broader pattern

This recall is part of a wider pattern of increased scrutiny involving refrigerated ready-to-eat foods and smaller direct-to-consumer food producers. In recent years, regulators have continued emphasizing the importance of inspection protocols, validated production controls, and proper refrigeration safeguards to reduce contamination risks.

Meanwhile, industry experts say recalls tied to inadequate production verification often serve as reminders that even small-scale food operations must maintain rigorous food safety standards comparable to those followed by larger manufacturers.

Ensuring safe eats

The My Wife’s Slaw recall underscores the critical role verified food safety procedures play in protecting consumers from potential foodborne illness risks. Even when companies report no illnesses, recalls tied to missing inspection controls can still damage consumer trust and raise public health concerns.

To help prevent similar incidents, food manufacturers should maintain strict sanitation standards, validate production controls, and properly document all regulatory inspections and safety procedures. Meanwhile, consumers who purchased the recalled coleslaw should stop using the product immediately and dispose of it safely.

At Source86, we help food brands strengthen ingredient sourcing, FSQA oversight, private label production, and supply chain transparency so businesses can respond quickly and responsibly when food safety concerns arise. Contact us.