Aldi Shoppers Beware: Pork Product May Contain Metal Fragments

A public health alert has been issued for a pork product sold at Aldi grocery stores that could contain fragments of metal.

ABC News reports that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the warning for a pork carnitas product produced by Cargill Meat Solutions on April 1 and 2, 2025. The packages were sold at Aldi stores across the country, including here in Iowa.

According to the alert that was issued on April 19th, the affected items are packaged in 16-ounce sleeved trays that are labeled, "Pork Carnitas SEASONED & SEARED PORK WITH JUICES SLOW COOKED WITH CITRUS" according to ABC News. The 'use-by' dates on the packages are either June 30, 2025, or July 1, 2025. The sleeves also include heat-and-serve instructions, as well as the words 'fully cooked', perishable', and 'keep refrigderated'.

ABC News reports that a recall for the product was not requested because the product is no longer available for purchase. However, officials are concerned that the product could still be in many consumers' refrigerators and freezers. The warning was issued after Cargill informed inspectors that equipment damage could have led to metal contamination of the pork.

According to ABC News, the potentially affected products were distributed to retailers in the following states: Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

No injuries have been reported at this time. Consumers are urged not to eat the pork, and either throw it away or return it to the Aldi store where it was purchased.