Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods Recalls Baked Spaghetti, Chicken Cobbler, and Bread Pudding Products Over Possible Aluminum Fragments

RICHMOND, Va. (July 30, 2026). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods, LLC is voluntarily recalling six prepared food products because they may contain aluminum fragments. According to the agency, the company initiated the recall after discovering a small sliver of aluminum in one of its baking pans. The company later found a similar metal fragment in a Chicken Cobbler product. Fortunately, the FDA said neither the company nor regulators have received reports of injuries in connection with the recall.

Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods recall: quick summary

Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods voluntarily recalled six prepared food products after identifying a potential foreign object hazard during production. Specifically, the recall affects select Baked Spaghetti, Chicken Cobbler, and Bread Pudding products sold through retailers across the Mid-Atlantic region. As a result, consumers should not eat the affected products and should return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Additionally, according to the FDA, no injuries have been reported, and no other Ukrop’s products are affected by the recall.

What happened?

According to the FDA, Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods initiated the voluntary recall after a routine review identified a small sliver of aluminum in one of its baking pans. The company later found a similar metal fragment in a Chicken Cobbler product and, out of an abundance of caution, expanded the recall to include all products prepared with similar baking pans during the affected production period.

Specifically, the recall covers multiple sizes of Baked Spaghetti, Chicken Cobbler, and Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce with Best By dates ranging from July 6 through August 5, 2026. The company distributed the affected products to retailers across Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky, and nearby markets, including Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Kroger, Publix, Wegmans, and Ukrop’s Market Hall.

Fortunately, the FDA said neither the company nor regulators have received reports of injuries in connection with the recall. Meanwhile, the agency urged consumers not to eat the affected products and to “return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.”

Affected products

Brand	Product	Size	UPC	Best By Date	Issue	Distribution
Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods	Baked Spaghetti	14.8 oz	72251528211	July 8–Aug. 5, 2026	Possible aluminum fragments	VA, NC
Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods	Baked Spaghetti Bulk	62.4 oz	72251529211	July 8–Aug. 5, 2026	Possible aluminum fragments	VA, NC, WV
Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods	Chicken Cobbler	11.6 oz	72251528457	July 8–Aug. 5, 2026	Possible aluminum fragments	VA, NC, WV
Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods	Chicken Cobbler Bulk	48 oz	72251529457	July 8–Aug. 5, 2026	Possible aluminum fragments	VA, NC, WV
Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods	Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce	13.8 oz	72251528044	July 6–Aug. 3, 2026	Possible aluminum fragments	VA, NC, WV, KY
Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods	Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce Kit	4 lb	72251591732	July 6–Aug. 3, 2026	Possible aluminum fragments	VA, WV

What caused the issue?

According to the FDA, the recall stems from the potential presence of aluminum fragments from baking pans the company used during production. The company discovered the issue during a routine review and later expanded the recall after finding a similar metal fragment in a Chicken Cobbler product.

Unlike bacterial contamination, foreign object recalls involve physical hazards that may cause choking or injuries to the mouth, throat, or digestive tract if consumers ingest them. As a result, manufacturers must identify these hazards quickly and remove affected products from the market.

Fortunately, the FDA said neither the company nor regulators have received reports of injuries associated with the recalled products.

FSQA insight

“Foreign object hazards can originate from damaged equipment, worn food-contact surfaces, or manufacturing materials that deteriorate over time,” said Divina Grace Barroso, Head of Food Safety and Quality Assurance at Source86.

“Routine equipment inspections, supplier verification, preventive maintenance, and visual quality checks all play an important role in preventing foreign material contamination before products reach consumers.”

Here’s what you should do

Consumers who purchased any of the recalled products should:

• Do not consume the recalled products.
• Return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.
• Check the product label for the matching UPC and Best By date.
• Verify whether the product was manufactured between July 1 and July 30, 2026.
• Contact Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods with any questions regarding the recall.

Consumer contact

• Phone: 804-340-3050
• Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. EST

Behind the brand

Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods launched in 2010 following the sale of Ukrop’s Super Markets. Today, the company manufactures prepared meals and baked goods for supermarket partners throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, supplying retailers including Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Kroger, Publix, Wegmans, and Ukrop’s Market Hall.

Meanwhile, according to the company’s recall announcement, the baking pan supplier has begun removing potentially affected pan lots from distribution. Additionally, retailers have removed the recalled products from store shelves.

Regulatory context

Although bacterial contamination and undeclared allergens account for many food recalls, manufacturers also face risks from foreign object contamination. To reduce these risks, companies implement preventive maintenance programs, inspect equipment, verify suppliers, and strengthen product traceability so they can identify affected production lots quickly when issues arise.

In light of this recall, Eran Mizrahi, CEO of Source86, said foreign object recalls underscore the importance of treating equipment integrity as a core component of food safety.

“Foreign material incidents remind manufacturers that food safety extends beyond ingredients. Strong preventive maintenance, supplier oversight, and traceability systems help companies prevent contamination, protect consumers, and respond quickly when issues arise.”

Ensuring safe eats

This recall demonstrates why preventive food safety programs must extend beyond ingredient safety to include equipment maintenance, supplier oversight, and manufacturing controls. In particular, companies that identify potential hazards early and maintain effective traceability systems can remove affected products quickly and reduce risks to consumers.

As a result, consumers who purchased any of the recalled Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods products should not consume them and should instead return them for a full refund. Additionally, checking the product’s UPC and Best By date remains the fastest way to determine whether a product is part of the recall.

At Source86, we help food brands strengthen supplier verification, food safety management, ingredient sourcing, and private label manufacturing through transparent, resilient supply chains that support product quality and enable rapid recall response when needed. Contact us to learn more about how we help companies build safer, more resilient food supply chains.

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