13 Shocking Hummus Recalls That Affected Millions

Ever looked at that creamy bowl of hummus and wondered if it might be hiding more than just garlic and tahini?

As much as we love this chickpea favorite, hummus has been involved in some unsettling food safety scares over the years. I started paying close attention after a bout of food poisoning in 2016 (thankfully, not from hummus—but it definitely put me on high alert).

Since then, I’ve kept a close eye on recall news, and let me tell you, hummus isn’t always as harmless as it looks. Here are twelve recalls that had shoppers double-checking their fridge contents.

1. Sabra’s Listeria Nightmare of 2016

Sabra's Listeria Nightmare of 2016
© Time

The hummus world trembled when industry giant Sabra voluntarily recalled a staggering 57 varieties of its products in November 2016. Routine testing at their manufacturing facility revealed possible Listeria contamination – yikes!

I remember frantically digging through my fridge that day, checking expiration dates while on hold with their customer service. The recall affected approximately 30 million containers across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Thankfully, no illnesses were reported, but the financial hit to the company topped $5 million, not counting the damage to consumer trust that took years to rebuild.

2. House of Thaller’s Metal Fragment Fiasco

House of Thaller's Metal Fragment Fiasco
© The Takeout

Metal in my hummus? No thanks! In June 2017, House of Thaller recalled their Fresh Foods Market pine nut hummus after discovering broken metal fragments from their manufacturing equipment had fallen into the creamy dip.

The recall spanned 14 states and affected three different brands: Marketside, Lantana, and Fresh Foods Market. My neighbor actually found a tiny metal shard in her container – she showed me the evidence in a ziplock bag!

Almost 2 million containers were pulled from shelves, causing a summer hummus shortage at my local grocery store that had me experimenting with making my own.

3. Trader Joe’s Mediterranean Meltdown

Trader Joe's Mediterranean Meltdown
© Delish

Cult-favorite grocery chain Trader Joe’s faced a major embarrassment in 2018 when their Mediterranean Hummus and Tahini Sauce products were recalled due to potential Salmonella contamination. The problem? Contaminated tahini imported from Israel.

My weekly shopping routine was totally disrupted! The recall affected stores in 23 states, with more than 100,000 units pulled from those quirky TJ shelves.

What made this recall particularly tricky was that many customers had already consumed the products before the announcement. Health officials ended up tracking 8 confirmed cases of Salmonella infection linked to the contaminated hummus.

4. Pita Pal’s Production Plant Problems

Pita Pal's Production Plant Problems
© The Today Show

Holy chickpeas! In July 2019, Houston-based Pita Pal Foods issued a massive recall affecting 87 different types of hummus products sold under 10 different brand names. FDA inspectors found Listeria monocytogenes lurking in their production facility.

The contamination spread faster than gossip at a family reunion! Brands like Harris Teeter, Bucee’s, and Fresh Thyme were all affected, leaving approximately 3 million containers vulnerable to contamination.

My brother-in-law works in food distribution and told me the behind-the-scenes scramble was absolute chaos – trucks were literally turned around mid-route to prevent potentially dangerous products from reaching store shelves.

5. Lantana’s Undeclared Allergen Alert

Lantana's Undeclared Allergen Alert
© The Kitchn

Nuts about hummus but allergic to actual nuts? Lantana Foods gave their allergic customers a serious scare in 2020 when they recalled their White Bean Hummus after discovering it contained undeclared peanuts. Talk about a potentially deadly mix-up!

The manufacturing error affected approximately 350,000 containers distributed to major retailers like Walmart and Target across 27 states. My cousin with a severe peanut allergy had actually purchased this exact product – the recall notification literally saved her life.

Lantana offered full refunds, but the damage was done. Two hospitalizations were reported before the recall was announced, prompting an FDA investigation into their allergen control protocols.

6. Cedar’s Cross-Contamination Catastrophe

Cedar's Cross-Contamination Catastrophe
© A Sweet Spoonful

Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods faced their biggest crisis in April 2021 when routine testing revealed E. coli contamination in their organic hummus line. My weekly snack staple was suddenly public enemy number one!

The company initially recalled just one batch but quickly expanded to 15 different products when further testing showed more widespread contamination. Over 675,000 containers across New England and the Mid-Atlantic were affected.

The source? Contaminated organic chickpeas from a supplier whose farm had experienced flooding. Cedar’s transparent handling of the situation actually earned them customer loyalty points – they even sent me a coupon book after I emailed about returning two containers.

7. Boar’s Head Hidden Plastic Problem

Boar's Head Hidden Plastic Problem
© Yoder’s Country Market

Premium deli brand Boar’s Head shocked customers in February 2022 when they recalled their Traditional Hummus due to—wait for it—pieces of clear plastic found mixed into the product! The discovery came after multiple consumer complaints about strange “crunchy bits” in their otherwise smooth hummus.

The plastic originated from a broken production line component that had somehow evaded quality control inspections. Nearly 2 million containers were affected across 38 states.

I actually witnessed the recall firsthand while shopping – a store employee was literally pulling containers off shelves as customers watched. The company later revealed the recall cost them over $4.3 million in lost product and logistics.

8. Aldi’s Summer Salmonella Scare

Aldi's Summer Salmonella Scare
© Simply Recipes

Budget-friendly supermarket Aldi faced a PR nightmare during the peak summer picnic season of 2022 when their Park Street Deli brand hummus tested positive for Salmonella. The timing couldn’t have been worse!

The contamination was traced to a water supply issue at their contract manufacturing facility. Approximately 1.2 million containers were recalled across 35 states, affecting classic, roasted red pepper, and garlic varieties.

My neighborhood cookout plans were totally derailed – I’d already bought six containers for the event! The recall was particularly effective because Aldi used their app to notify customers who had purchased the affected products, potentially preventing dozens of illness cases.

9. Whole Foods’ Wild Mold Discovery

Whole Foods' Wild Mold Discovery
© Amazon.com

Premium grocery chain Whole Foods Market issued an urgent recall in March 2023 after discovering abnormal mold growth in their store-brand organic hummus. The fuzzy surprise was definitely not listed in the ingredients!

The recall affected their 365 Organic brand hummus in original, roasted garlic, and roasted red pepper flavors. Nearly 400,000 containers were pulled from shelves across all 530+ Whole Foods locations nationwide.

My friend who works at Whole Foods told me they discovered the issue when containers started literally bulging on the shelves – apparently, improper pH balancing during production allowed the mold to grow even under refrigeration. Talk about an expensive mistake for the Amazon-owned grocery chain!

10. Costco’s Kirkland Brand Bacteria Blunder

Costco's Kirkland Brand Bacteria Blunder
© Instacart

Bulk-buying enthusiasts faced a bulky recall in June 2023 when Costco pulled their popular Kirkland Signature Organic Hummus due to Bacillus cereus contamination. Those massive 32-ounce tubs suddenly seemed like giant containers of trouble!

The bacteria, which can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea, was found during routine testing. More than 1.8 million pounds of product were affected, making it one of the largest hummus recalls by volume in history.

I had just stocked up the weekend before the announcement – returning those heavy containers to the warehouse was quite the workout! Costco’s excellent tracking system allowed them to directly contact over 95% of purchasers via phone or email within 24 hours.

11. Walmart’s Great Value Glitch

Walmart's Great Value Glitch
© Forbes

Penny-pinchers got more than they bargained for in September 2023 when Walmart recalled their Great Value brand hummus due to temperature control failures during transportation. Spoiled hummus is definitely not a great value!

The refrigeration malfunction affected approximately 1.5 million containers shipped to over 3,000 Walmart locations nationwide. All varieties were included in the recall.

My mother-in-law actually got sick from this one before the recall was announced – three days of stomach issues from what we thought was a harmless snack! Walmart’s handling of the situation drew criticism when they initially downplayed the potential health risks, only to later acknowledge that the temperature abuse could lead to dangerous bacterial growth.

12. Target’s Good & Gather Glass Contamination

Target's Good & Gather Glass Contamination
© Smitten Kitchen

Target shoppers received a sharp warning in November 2023 when the retailer recalled their Good & Gather brand hummus after receiving multiple reports of glass fragments in the product. Crunchy hummus is great – when the crunch comes from veggies, not glass!

The contamination originated from broken glass containers used during the manufacturing process. The recall affected approximately 820,000 containers of their traditional, roasted red pepper, and garlic varieties.

I found this particularly scary because I’d been serving this exact hummus at my book club meetings for months! Target’s response was impressive though – they offered double refunds and sent $50 gift cards to customers who reported finding glass, helping to maintain consumer confidence despite the dangerous defect.

13. Hope Foods’ Heavy Metal Hazard

Hope Foods' Heavy Metal Hazard
© VegNews.com

Organic hummus maker Hope Foods shattered their wholesome image in January 2024 when they recalled their entire product line due to – believe it or not – lead contamination. Heavy metal belongs in music, not in my afternoon snack!

The contamination was traced to imported spices used in their flavored varieties. Initial testing showed lead levels up to three times the FDA’s acceptable limit in some batches.

My health-conscious sister was devastated – she’d been feeding this “clean” brand to her toddler for months! The recall affected approximately 1.2 million containers nationwide and prompted renewed calls for stricter testing of imported food ingredients. Hope Foods’ transparent handling of the situation, including offering free blood testing to concerned customers, helped salvage some of their reputation.