Dinosaur-shaped nuggets sold at Walmart may contain unsafe levels of lead, according to a public health alert issued on Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
What did the health alert say about the Great Value dinosaur nuggets?
The frozen, dinosaur-shaped, ready-to-eat nuggets were manufactured by Dorada Foods and sold under the Great Value brand at Walmart locations nationwide. The health alert stated that the frozen items may contain high levels of lead and were detected during routine surveillance sampling.
A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase. However, the FSIS has advised customers to check their freezers for the affected items, according to the alert.
The frozen nuggets were produced on Feb. 10, 2026. The affected product is a 29-ounce plastic bag containing approximately 36 “Great Value Fully Cooked Dino Shaped Chicken Breast Nuggets,” marked with a “Best If Used By” date of Feb. 10, 2027. Packages also include the lot code “0416DPO1215” and establishment number “P44164,” printed on the back of the bag.
Walmart on the health alert: ‘We’re working with the supplier to investigate.’
A Walmart spokesperson spoke out following the health alert on the food brand, stating that they were working with the supplier to conduct further investigation and outlining what customers should do next.
“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.”
Walmart has not issued a recall on the Great Value dinosaur chicken nuggets because they are no longer available for purchase, per TODAY.com.
The risks of lead exposure and its symptoms
“There is no safe amount of lead exposure,” the FSIS alert and TODAY.com stated. “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.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, lead poisoning can be difficult to detect as healthy individuals could have high levels of the toxin in their bodies. The symptoms don’t usually appear unless dangerous levels of lead are detected in the blood. Lead poisoning symptoms are different for both adults and children.
Lead poisoning symptoms in children
Signs and symptoms of lead poisoning in children include:
- Developmental delay.
- Learning difficulties.
- Irritability.
- Loss of appetite.
- Weight loss.
- Sluggishness and fatigue.
- Abdominal pain.
- Vomiting.
- Constipation.
- Hearing loss.
- Seizures.
Lead poisoning symptoms in adults
Signs and symptoms include:
- High blood pressure.
- Joint and muscle pain.
- Difficulties with memory or concentration.
- Headache.
- Abdominal pain.
- Mood disorders.
- Reduced sperm count and abnormal sperm.
- Miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature birth
The post Walmart Dinosaur Nuggets Linked To Potential Lead Exposure, Health Alert Issued appeared first on Blavity.
