Kroger recalls Homestyle cheese garlic croutons

Sugar Foods LLC recalled certain lots of Kroger Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons after linking the product to milk powder that could be contaminated with Salmonella, according to a company notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on May 18. The company dated the announcement May 15 and said the recall applies to 5-ounce pouches sold under the Kroger brand. The affected product carries UPC 0 11110 81353 4 and was distributed to Kroger stores in 17 states between March 7 and April 7, 2026. Sugar Foods said no illnesses had been reported as of the recall notice. ### Which croutons are covered by the recall? The recall covers Kroger Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons in 5-ounce pouches, Sugar Foods said. The company listed one UPC for the recalled product: 0 11110 81353 4. (fda.gov) The FDA notice listed nine affected best-if-used-by dates: Feb. 17, 2027; Feb. 18, 2027; Feb. 27, 2027; Feb. 28, 2027; Mar. 6, 2027; Mar. 9, 2027; Mar. 21, 2027; Apr. 1, 2027; and Apr. 7, 2027. Consumers were told to check the packaging for those dates. (fda.gov) ### How did milk powder end up at the center of this recall? California Dairies, Inc. supplied the milk powder to Solina USA, which made the seasoning blend used on the croutons, Sugar Foods said in the recall notice. Sugar Foods said it buys that seasoning blend from Solina USA and applies it to the product. (fda.gov) Sugar Foods said the affected seasoning batches tested negative for Salmonella before use. The company said it still moved ahead with the recall because California Dairies had already initiated a supplier recall involving the milk powder, and Sugar Foods was acting "out of an abundance of caution" based on that ingredient recall. (fda.gov) ### Where were the recalled bags shipped? The company said the recalled croutons were distributed to Kroger stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia. The shipping window ran from March 7, 2026, through April 7, 2026, according to the recall notice. (fda.gov) ABC News, citing the recall announcement, reported the same 17-state distribution footprint and said the product was sold at Kroger stores in those states. ### What health risk did the company describe? Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems, the FDA-posted company notice said. (fda.gov) Sugar Foods said healthy people infected with Salmonella can experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare cases, the organism can enter the bloodstream and cause more severe illness, including arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis, the notice said. (abcnews.com) ABC News, citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Salmonella causes about 1.35 million infections in the United States each year. ### What should consumers do next? Sugar Foods said no illnesses had been reported to date in connection with the recall. (fda.gov) The company directed consumers with questions or requests for more information to call (332) 240-6676, a line it said is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (abcnews.com) The FDA notice remains posted in the agency's recalls, market withdrawals and safety alerts section, where the product description, UPC and affected date codes are listed for consumers checking packages. (fda.gov)