A new USDA health alert has just dropped, and it’s one you don’t want to ignore—especially if you shop at Aldi.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for pork carnitas sold at Aldi due to possible metal contamination. Yes, metal, as in sharp fragments that could be hiding in your food.
Here’s what to look for: If you purchased Aldi’s 16-ounce “Pork Carnitas SEASONED & SEARED PORK WITH JUICES SLOW COOKED WITH CITRUS” with a Use By date of 07/01/2025, stop everything and check your fridge or freezer. These products were produced April 1–2, 2025, and marked with the USDA inspection code Est. 46049.
While no injuries have been reported yet, the alert was issued after a damaged processing machine may have contaminated the food with metal pieces. That means the risk is very real, and the consequences could be serious.
If you have this product in your home, do not eat it. Toss it immediately or return it to the store for a refund.
Although current store shelves are reportedly stocked with safe product, anything purchased earlier that matches these identifiers should be treated as unsafe. Metal fragments in food aren’t just unpleasant—they’re dangerous.
In short: This isn’t a minor quality issue. It’s a safety concern. And if you’ve been planning to pull those carnitas out for dinner, it’s time to swap them out for something else.
Better safe than sorry—your health isn’t worth the risk.
