Saratoga Potato Chips of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is recalling 7.75-ounce bags of J. HIGGS Loaded Bacon and Cheddar Potato Chips because the product may contain soy that is not listed on the label, according to a company announcement posted by the FDA. The chips were sold at Save A Lot stores in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and Maryland.
The hazard is narrow but real. People with a soy allergy or severe sensitivity "run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction" if they eat the chips, the company said. For everyone else, the recalled bags pose no known safety concern.
That distinction matters for households with a child or adult who has a diagnosed soy allergy. Families who rely on ingredient labels to keep snacks safe had no warning on these bags, which is why checking the pantry now is important.
Codes Printed on the Bag
The recall covers J. HIGGS Loaded Bacon and Cheddar Potato Chips in a 7.75-ounce flexible metalized bag with UPC 0-51933-31645-4. Affected bags carry a best-if-used-by code of DEC 11 26 or DEC 18 26 in the top right corner.
The company announced the recall Sept. 16, and the FDA posted it Sept. 18. The problem was identified through a company review, and the recall is ongoing. No illnesses or injuries had been reported as of the announcement. The recall was also listed in a daily food recall roundup by eFoodAlert.
Consumers can return the chips to the place of purchase for a full refund or call Saratoga Potato Chips at 1-260-969-0066 with questions.
Families who move snacks into lunch boxes or storage containers may no longer have the bag. In that case, the safest option for a soy-allergic family member is to discard any J. HIGGS Loaded Bacon and Cheddar chips recently bought at Save A Lot in the affected states.
The notice does not say how many bags were produced. Only the two listed date codes are part of the recall, and no other J. HIGGS flavors were named.
How Allergen Labeling Is Supposed to Work
Soy is one of nine major food allergens recognized under U.S. law, along with milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and sesame, according to an FDA consumer update on reading food labels. Packaged foods must name the food source of these allergens, either in parentheses after an ingredient, such as "lecithin (soy)," or in a "Contains" statement next to the ingredient list.
That rule matters because soy can appear in less obvious forms, such as lecithin or proteins in seasoning blends. When labeling fails, recalls follow. Allergen recalls can trace to label mix-ups, recipe changes, or shared equipment, but this notice did not explain how soy entered the product or why it was left off the label.
FDA food technologist Carol D'Lima has advised shoppers that if a "Contains" statement lists their allergen, they should "put the food product back on the shelf." This recall shows the reverse risk: an allergen that is present but missing from the label.
Reaction Warning Signs and When to Act
Allergic reactions range from mild to life-threatening. Symptoms can include hives, lip swelling, vomiting, stomach pain, wheezing, throat tightness, dizziness, or fainting. Severe reactions, known as anaphylaxis, can involve breathing problems and a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
Anyone with a soy allergy who ate the recalled chips and develops trouble breathing, throat or tongue swelling, or faintness should use prescribed epinephrine if available and call 911. Milder symptoms, such as a few hives, still warrant a call to a health care professional, because reactions can worsen.
Children with diagnosed food allergies should have an emergency action plan on file at school or child care, a step that matters most when a mislabeled snack reaches a lunch table. Families without a regular allergist can ask a pediatrician or primary care clinician about prescribing epinephrine, and pharmacists can explain lower-cost generic auto-injector options.
Families managing food allergies can take a few more steps. Keep emergency medication unexpired and easy to reach, share the recall with schools, sitters, and grandparents who buy snacks, and check the FDA's recalls and safety alerts page for new notices. Because ingredients can change at any time, the FDA advises checking the label every time you buy a product, even a familiar one.
Anyone who has a suspected reaction can report it through the FDA's product problem reporting portal.
Households without soy allergies do not need to discard the chips for safety reasons, though refunds remain available. The company has not said whether additional codes will be added, the key detail allergic shoppers should watch for in any update from the FDA or Saratoga Potato Chips.
Key Questions Answered
Which chips are being recalled?
The recall covers 7.75-ounce bags of J. HIGGS Loaded Bacon and Cheddar Potato Chips with UPC 0-51933-31645-4 and best-if-used-by codes of DEC 11 26 or DEC 18 26.
Where were the chips sold?
They were sold at Save A Lot stores in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and Maryland.
Why were the chips recalled?
The bags may contain soy that is not declared on the label, which can cause serious reactions in people with a soy allergy.
Have any illnesses been reported?
No illnesses or injuries had been reported as of the company's announcement.
Should people without a soy allergy throw the chips away?
The recall targets people with a soy allergy or sensitivity. Others face no known risk but can still return the chips for a refund.
What should I do if someone has a reaction?
For trouble breathing, throat swelling, or fainting, use prescribed epinephrine and call 911. For milder symptoms, contact a health care professional promptly.
