Check Your Fridge: 22,000 Pounds of Johnsonville Bratwurst Recalled Over Potential Contamination

If you were planning to grill sausages this week, you might want to double check which ones you purchased.

On Saturday, major sausage producer Johnsonville announced a voluntary recall of approximately 22,672 pounds of its cheddar bratwurst product as it may be “contaminated with foreign material, specifically hard plastic,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) shared in its announcement. The issue was discovered after two customers complained about finding pieces of plastic in their bratwurst. 

According to the recall notice, the cheddar bratwurst in question was produced on February 5, 2025. The only product being recalled is the brand’s 19-ounce sealed firm tray packages containing five pieces of Johnsonville Brats Cheddar Bratwurst. Recalled items will have the package code B9FOD and the establishment number “Est. 1647” — the latter will be on the front of the product’s label, hopefully making it easy to identify.

The recall notes that affected items were shipped to retail locations in Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin, so grocery shoppers in these states should pay attention.

The good news is that there have been no confirmed reports of injury in association with this recall. However, if you did consume the product and are feeling ill, it is critical that you reach out to a medical professional immediately.

The FSIS also says it’s “concerned that some product may be in consumers’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.” 

Anyone with questions about this recall can reach out to Amanda Fritsch, consumer relations coordinator for Johnsonville, at 888-556-2728 or [email protected]. 

This isn’t the only recent recall to make headlines thanks to foreign objects in food. In late March, the FSIS issued a recall for 29,541 pounds — or a little over 14 tons — of Chomps ready-to-eat beef sticks, manufactured by Idaho Smokehouse Partners, as they were potentially contaminated with pieces of metal. And in early April, confection company Tony’s Chocolonely Inc. announced a voluntary, international recall of specific chocolate bar flavors, due to the potential presence of small stones. These incidents are a helpful reminder to stay informed on any recalls that federal agencies issue.