Pork Sold at Aldi May Be Contaminated With Metals, According to a USDA Health Alert

If you like pork carnitas and Aldi, it’s time to check your fridge and freezer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for Aldi pork carnitas products, which may be contaminated with pieces of metal.

The products currently on shelves are safe to eat and unaffected by the health alert, but here’s what to look for if you purchased pork carnitas at Aldi prior to the notice and still have some in your refrigerator or freezer.

The affected products were 16-ounce packages of “Pork Carnitas SEASONED & SEARED PORK WITH JUICES SLOW COOKED WITH CITRUS.” They were produced between April 1-2, 2025, and have the Use By Date of 07/01/2025 printed on the side. You can also check for the establishment number Est. 46049, which will appear on the USDA mark of inspection.

No injuries or problems have been reported in association with this issue, but the FSIS announced the alert after they discovered that equipment used to process the meat was damaged and may have released pieces of metal into the food.

If you have the affected products, you should not eat them. Throw them away or return them to the store for a refund.

If you have any questions about the recall, you can reach out to the manufacturer, Cargill Meat Solutions, at their consumer hotline, 1-844-419-1574; or contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or MPHotline@usda.gov.