Costco salad dressings recalled in 27 states over plastic contamination risk

An FDA-led recall of thousands of cases of popular salad dressings sold at major retailers has expanded to 27 states due to the possible presence of foreign material that could pose a choking risk. Ventura Foods, the California-based supplier, initiated the recall on Nov. 11 as a Class II action, a designation used when use of a product could cause temporary, reversible health issues, the FDA said.

Eight dressings are affected, totaling about 3,556 cases, including Hidden Valley Ranch 1-gallon buttermilk ranch dressing, which was produced for food-service use and was not sold to consumers. The recall covers products distributed to seven retailers across 42 locations in 27 states, plus one customer in Costa Rica. The dressings include an Italian Dressing, Pepper Mill's Caesar Dressing, a Caesar Dressing sold for Costco service deli, and a Caesar Dressing sold in Costco food courts, among others. The recall notes a possible presence of plastic foreign material in the onions used to make the dressings. Sell-by dates include Oct. 17, 2025 and Nov. 9, 2025. No injuries have been reported in connection with the recall.

Notably, Costco issued a related alert last month about a recall tied to Caesar salad and Chicken Sandwich with Caesar Salad, in a separate Ventura Foods recall. The two recalls illustrate ongoing safety checks around prepared foods distributed through large retailers and food-service channels.

Consumers who purchased any of the affected dressings should not consume them and should discard the products or return them to the place of purchase for a refund. The eight-dressing list includes Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch, Italian Dressing, Creamy Poblano Avocado Ranch Dressing and Dip, Ventura Caesar Dressing, Pepper Mill Regal Caesar Dressing, Pepper Mill Creamy Caesar Dressing, Caesar Dressing (Costco Service Deli), and Caesar Dressing (Costco Food Court). Sell-by dates cited in recall notices span late 2025, underscoring the importance of checking packaging for date codes.

Ventura Foods and the FDA said they are continuing to investigate the contamination episode, including how plastic material ended up in onions used for the dressings. Officials have emphasized that the exact mechanism of contamination remains under review, and there is no indication that the issue stems from consumer handling.

Health officials remind consumers to check their refrigerators and discard any recalled products. They also note that plastic contaminants pose a choking risk and can cause injury if swallowed or inhaled. For questions, consumers can contact Ventura Foods or refer to the recall notice for the full product list and guidance on returns.