Saratoga Springs, NY (October 02, 2026). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a recall from Stewart’s Shop Corp. The recall affects half-gallon cartons of Stewart’s Shops Heavenly Medley and Vanilla-Chocolate-Strawberry ice cream because they may contain metal. Stewart’s Shops announced the recall on October 2, 2026, and the FDA published the notice the same day. According to the FDA, Stewart’s Shops sold the products at locations in New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire between July 17 and October 2, 2026.
Stewart’s Shops recall: quick summary
The recall covers half-gallon cartons of Stewart’s Shops Heavenly Medley and Vanilla-Chocolate-Strawberry ice cream. The products carry Best By dates of February 10, 2027, and February 11, 2027, respectively, with UPCs 0 82086 44371 1 and 0 82086 44377 3.
The company initiated the recall after a consumer discovered a metal object inside a half-gallon carton of ice cream. So far, the FDA has received no reports of illnesses or injuries linked to the issue. As a result, consumers who purchased either product should not eat it and should return it to any Stewart’s Shops location for a full refund.
Official recall details
- Recall Announcement Date: October 02, 2026
- FDA Publication Date: October 02, 2026
- Announced by: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Company: Stewart’s Shop Corp.
- Brand: Stewart’s Shops
- Products: Heavenly Medley and Vanilla-Chocolate-Strawberry ice cream
- Issue: Potential presence of metal
- Package Size: One half gallon (1.89L)
- Packaging: Paperboard carton
- Best By Dates: February 10, 2027, and February 11, 2027
- UPC: 0 82086 44371 1 and 0 82086 44377 3
- Distribution: Stewart’s Shops locations in New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire
- Consumer Action: Do not consume. Return the product to any Stewart’s Shops location for a full refund.
- Consumer Contact: Robin Cooper, 518-248-0455, [email protected]
What happened?
Stewart’s Shop Corp., based in Saratoga Springs, New York, announced the recall on October 2, 2026, according to the FDA notice. The recall involves two half-gallon ice cream flavors that Stewart’s Shops sold at locations across New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire.
The company initiated the recall after a consumer discovered a metal object inside a half-gallon carton of ice cream. However, the FDA notice does not provide additional details about the consumer report or identify the specific metal object.
Stewart’s Shops sold the affected products between July 17 and October 2, 2026. Meanwhile, the company issued the recall with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Affected products
Brand | Product | Size | UPC | Best By Date | Issue | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stewart’s Shops | Heavenly Medley | One half gallon (1.89L) | 0 82086 44371 1 | Feb. 10, 2027 | Potential presence of metal | NY, VT, NH |
Stewart’s Shops | Vanilla-Chocolate-Strawberry | One half gallon (1.89L) | 0 82086 44377 3 | Feb. 11, 2027 | Potential presence of metal | NY, VT, NH |
The recalled ice cream is frozen and packaged in paperboard cartons. The FDA notice lists a seven-month shelf life and identifies the products as ready-to-eat ice cream intended for home consumption.
What caused the issue?
According to the FDA, the recalled ice cream may contain metal. The agency said the recall began after a consumer discovered a metal object in one of the affected half-gallon cartons.
Because metal can pose a physical food safety hazard, consumers who accidentally ingest foreign material could face choking or injuries to the mouth, throat, teeth, or digestive tract. The potential risk can vary depending on the size and characteristics of the object.
However, the FDA recall notice does not identify how the metal entered the ice cream. It also does not identify a specific equipment failure, supplier issue, packaging problem, or other root cause. As a result, no further cause should be inferred from the available information.
Meanwhile, the agency reported that no illnesses or injuries had been reported in connection with the recall as of the October 2 announcement.
Supply Chain Insight
“A report of metal inside an ice cream carton should be treated as evidence to investigate, not as a complete explanation of the failure. Preserving the product details and complaint information gives the company a basis to examine possible sources and decide whether other inventory needs attention,” said Eran Mizrahi, CEO at Source86.
Here’s what you should do
- Do not consume the recalled Heavenly Medley or Vanilla-Chocolate-Strawberry ice cream.
- Return the affected product to any Stewart’s Shops location for a full refund.
- Check the carton for the affected flavor, UPC, and Best By date.
- Consumers with questions can contact Robin Cooper at 518-248-0455 or [email protected].
Behind the brand
Stewart’s Shops is a family- and employee-owned convenience store chain operating more than 400 locations across New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire. The company employs more than 5,000 people and distributes more than 75% of the products sold in its shops.
The company also produces its own milk and ice cream at its dairy in Greenfield Center, near Saratoga Springs. Stewart’s says its vertically integrated operation allows the company to manufacture and distribute many of its products directly to its shops.
Other relevant recalls
- So Delicious Dairy Free Recalls Salted Caramel Cluster Frozen Dessert Over Foreign Material: This recall involves a frozen dessert affected by a foreign material concern, making it closely related to the Stewart’s Shops ice cream recall.
- Outshine Recalls Fruit Bars Over Possible Glass Contamination: This recall involves another frozen dessert product and a potential physical contamination hazard.
- Grand Central Bakery Recalls Potato Sourdough Bread Over Possible Metal Contamination: This recall involves the same type of physical hazard, with the product potentially contaminated with metal.
Regulatory context
The recall identifies the affected ice cream through product-specific details, including flavors, UPCs, best-by dates, and distribution information. These details define the scope of the announced action more precisely than the product category alone. Retailers and consumers should use the identifiers in the official notice when determining whether a particular carton is included, rather than assuming that all products from the brand are affected.
Ensuring safe eats
When a recall involves possible metal contamination, consumers should use the affected product details in the official notice to determine whether a carton is included. Anyone who finds a recalled Stewart’s Shops product should not consume it and should follow the company’s refund instructions.
Metal fragments in dairy desserts usually trace back to inclusions or worn equipment, so Source86 asks inclusion suppliers for metal-detection records alongside their specifications.
Adding inclusions to a frozen dessert line? Contact our team about supplier foreign-material controls.
