Out of concerns about consumer safety, Johnsonville, LLC took voluntary action and recalled about 22,672 pounds of cheddar-flavored bratwurst products because of possible hard plastic fragment contamination. The recall dated April 4, 2025, issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) concerns certain lots shipped to ten states. This piece gives factual details of the recalled products, distribution channels, and ways through which consumers can reduce risks.
Summary of the recall
The recall is necessitated by two complaints from consumers, lodged in early April 2025, whereby customers reported that they found hard plastic content in Johnsonville’s cheddar bratwurst. Where no harm has yet resulted, extraneous material within foods leads to grave health conditions ranging from obstruction of the passage way to labial laceration to harm once swallowed. Johnsonville was prompt in notifying the FSIS and volunteering for product recall as proof of their concern for safety at the customer’s expense despite inconvenience and goodwill erosion that their so doing invites.
Product identification details
The affected bratwurst products were manufactured from a common batch that Johnsonville made on February 5, 2025, at their plant marked with establishment number “Est. 1647”. The affected bratwurst will have the following features:
- Product name: Johnsonville BRATS CHEDDAR Bratwurst
- Package size: Sealed 19-ounce packages of five sausages
- Package code: B9FOD (printed on the label)
- Establishment number: Est. 1647 (printed on the front label)
A photo of the packaging is displayed on the FSIS website, and the USDA has included the fact that the products can be left in consumer freezers even if they have been taken off retail shelves.
Distribution range and retail affected
Recalled bratwurst was sent to retail stores in ten states: Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Although the FSIS did not publish an entire list of the retailers involved, the wide geographic distribution indicates the product made it to the chain grocery stores and regional wholesalers in the Midwest and Southeast United States.
Johnsonville’s distribution for this run was prioritized in those states where its cheddar bratwurst enjoys high market penetration, especially in areas with high demand for grilled and pre-packaged sausages.
Consumer guidance and safety protocols
Those who bought the recalled bratwurst must take action immediately to avoid accidental ingestion:
- Inspect freezers: Check if there are any 19-ounce Johnsonville BRATS CHEDDAR packages with code B9FOD and Est. 1647.
- Stop use: Do not use the product, even if it seems intact or was already partially eaten without a problem.
- Disposal or return: Dispose of the bratwurst properly or return it to the store where it was bought for a refund.
Patients who have potentially consumed the product should be alert to the signs and symptoms of tooth damage, throat discomfort, or gastrointestinal upset and seek the advice of a physician if problems are noted. Adverse reaction reports can be submitted to the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or through the FSIS reporting online.
Company and regulatory response
Johnsonville has teamed up with the FSIS to handle the recall logistics, including retailer notification and public messaging. For consumer problems, people may contact Johnsonville’s Consumer Relations Coordinator, Amanda Fritsch, at 888-556-2728. Media inquiries can be addressed to Stephanie Schafer at 920-889-0782.
This case indicates the ongoing issue of ensuring food safety on high-speed production lines. Although Johnsonville has not experienced any significant recalls in recent years, the fact that plastic pieces were found indicates towards possible equipment malfunction or manufacturing packaging defects. The FSIS is still probing the cause but has assured that no other Johnsonville products are included in this recall.
Broader implications for food safety
Johnsonville recall is also concurrent with other recent food safety recalls, such as a March 2025 cookie dough recall by Craftmark Bakery and a Coca-Cola bottling problem, both due to plastic contamination. The incidents highlight the urgent need for additional quality control measures, especially in companies that use automated equipment. Periodic inspection of equipment, metal detection technology, and X-ray scanning could prevent foreign material issues.
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