FDA elevates peanut butter portion-pack recall to Class II, including products distributed by Houston-based wholesalers

Federal recall classification updated nearly 10 months after distributors began removing product

Federal regulators have updated the risk classification for a nationwide recall of single-serve peanut butter products that may contain foreign material described as pieces of blue plastic. The action covers more than 22,000 cases of portion packs distributed across 40 states, including Texas, and includes product distributed through Houston-based wholesalers.

The recall was initiated voluntarily on April 30, 2025, by Ventura Foods, a California-based manufacturer. On Feb. 12, 2026, the recall was classified as Class II, a category used when exposure to a product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, with a remote probability of serious outcomes.

Houston footprint: Sysco and Independent Marketing Alliance named in distribution chain

Distribution records associated with the recall list Sysco Corporation—whose corporate headquarters are in Houston’s Eldridge/West Oaks area—as one of the distributors for affected products shipped to Texas and other states. A second Houston-area distributor, Independent Marketing Alliance, is also listed in connection with recalled peanut butter products.

Sysco has said it learned of the issue roughly 10 months before the updated federal classification and notified stakeholders to remove affected product at that time. The company has stated it no longer has any of the recalled peanut butter in circulation.

What products are involved—and what they are not

The recall is focused on foodservice-style, single-serve portion packs rather than standard retail jars typically sold in grocery aisles. The affected items include peanut butter cups/packets in several sizes and certain peanut butter-and-jelly twin packs. These products are commonly used in institutional and commercial settings such as cafeterias, healthcare facilities, and catered food operations.

• Single-serve creamy peanut butter portion packs (including 0.5 oz, 0.75 oz, and 1.12 oz sizes)
• Peanut butter-and-jelly twin packs (2.12 oz), including grape jelly and strawberry jam varieties
• Brands and labels connected to distribution include House Recipe (Sysco), Katy’s Kitchen (marketed by Independent Marketing Alliance), and other national foodservice labels

Why the FDA classification changed

The trigger for the recall was the discovery of blue plastic material in a production filter. Publicly available federal recall information has not identified confirmed injuries tied to the affected products, and it has not specified how or when the plastic entered the production stream.

Class II recalls indicate a health risk that regulators consider less severe than Class I, but significant enough to warrant broad removal and notification efforts.

What consumers and foodservice operators can do now

Because the recalled items are portion packs often handled through foodservice distribution, households may be less likely to have them than restaurants, schools, and institutional kitchens. Foodservice operators can review inventory and supplier notices for product identifiers such as lot codes and “best by” information associated with peanut butter portion packs. Individuals who encounter the products through packaged meals or institutional settings can avoid consumption if the item matches a recalled label or code and report it to the point of distribution.