Thousands of cases of popular salad dressings are being recalled nationwide due to the potential presence of foreign objects, specifically black plastic planting material, detected in granulated onion used in the products. Ventura Foods initiated the recall of 3,556 cases of its salad dressings, a move that was escalated to a Class II recall on December 4th. This designation signifies that the consumption of the affected products could lead to serious health consequences.

The recall impacts a range of dressings distributed across 42 states to seven different retailers and food courts. Among the affected items are Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch, Caesar Dressing from Costco Service Deli and Food Court, Pepper Mill Creamy Caesar Dressing, Pepper Mill Regal Caesar Dressing, Italian Salad Dressing, and Creamy Poblano Avocado Ranch Dressing and Dip, as well as Ventura Caesar Dressing. Consumers are advised to check product labels for specific SKU numbers to determine if their purchase is included in the recall.

While no illnesses have been reported to date, consumers who have purchased any of the recalled salad dressings are strongly urged to discard the product immediately or return it to the point of purchase for a refund. The presence of plastic material in food products is a significant concern for public health and safety, prompting swift action from the manufacturer and regulatory bodies.

This widespread salad dressing recall follows a similar incident just last month involving Costco. The retail giant removed two of its Caesar salad products from shelves after discovering plastic foreign material in the dressing component of these items. Ventura Foods was also the supplier for these recalled Costco products, highlighting a potential systemic issue with their ingredient sourcing or manufacturing process.

The Costco recall, which occurred in November, specifically impacted their Caesar Salad (Item Number 19927) and Chicken Sandwich with Caesar Salad (Item Number 11444). The affected products had Sell By Dates ranging from October 17, 2025, to November 9, 2025. This prior incident likely contributed to the increased scrutiny and prompt action regarding the broader salad dressing recall.

This situation also brings to mind a separate recall by Coca-Cola in October, which involved a limited number of Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, and Sprite cans distributed in Texas. Those cans may have contained small metal fragments, posing a risk of internal injury. Although unrelated to the salad dressing recall, it underscores a broader trend of food and beverage recalls due to contamination concerns impacting major brands.

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Keywords: salad dressing recall, Ventura Foods, foreign objects, plastic contamination, Class II recall, food safety, Hidden Valley, Costco