Popular dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets may contain unsafe levels of lead, government health officials warned today in a public health alert.
The nuggets are not being recalled because they’re no longer sold in stores. But officials are concerned that consumers may still have the products in their freezers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service said in an alert.
The frozen nuggets where manufactured by Dorada Foods and sold under the Great Value brand name at Walmart stores across the country. The chicken nuggets may contain high levels of lead, the alert says, which were discovered during routine surveillance testing.
“Health and safety are always a top priority. As soon as we were alerted to the issue, we moved quickly to issue a sales restriction and remove the product from sale in stores and online,” a Walmart spokesperson told TODAY.com in a statement. “We’re working with the supplier to investigate. Customers who purchased the impacted items can return to any Walmart for a refund.”
Dorada Foods did not immediately respond to TODAY.com’s request for comment.
Here’s what to know about the chicken nuggets.
Which Dino Nuggets May Contain Lead?
The public health alert includes Great Value frozen, dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets that were shipped to Walmart stores across the country. They were produced on Feb. 10, 2026.
But it only affect products with a specific “best if used by” date lot code and product code.
According to the alert, the only chicken nuggets included in the alert are:
- 29-ounce plastic bags with approximately 36 Great Value Fully Cooked Dino Shaped Chicken Breast Nuggets
- With “best if used by” date of Feb. 10, 2027
- A lot code of 0416DPO1215
- And an establishment number of P44164 on the back of the bag
The front of the affected chicken nuggets.Courtesy FSISThe back of the affected product, including the establishment number, lot code and best-by date in the upper-left corner.
Is There a Recall of the Great Value Dino Nuggets?
No recall has been issued for the Great Value dinosaur chicken nuggets sold at Walmart. That’s because they are no longer available to purchase.
However, the FSIS is alerting the public about the chicken nuggets because they may still be in people’s freezers, and routine surveillance testing suggested the product may be contaminated with unsafe levels of lead.
“There is no safe amount of lead exposure,” the FSIS alert says. “The amount of lead found in these nuggets could be as much as five times higher than (the Food and Drug Administration’s reference level) for children. Health experts also say these nuggets may be a risk for women who are pregnant or who could become pregnant.”
Lead Poisoning Symptoms
Lead exposure can be dangerous for anyone but poses unique risks to pregnant people, infants and young children, the FSIS explains.
While there may be no immediate symptoms of lead poisoning in children, it can cause:
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
Exposure to high levels of lead can lead to issues like learning difficulties or developmental delays. But even lower levels of lead exposure — once thought to be safe — have now been linked to serious health effects, experts told TODAY.com previously.
What to Do If You Have the Affected Dino Nuggets
If you purchased any of the dinosaur chicken nuggets included in this public health alert, you should not eat them.
Instead, dispose of them or return them to the store where you purchased them.
