If you picked up pork carnitas from Aldi in the last few weeks, you might want to check your freezer.
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a public health alert for a specific batch of fully cooked pork carnitas that may contain metal fragments. That said, no official recall has been issued, mainly because the product is no longer being sold, but health officials are urging anyone who bought it to take action.
According to the USDA, the manufacturer reached out after discovering equipment damage that may have led to metal pieces ending up in the food. That triggered the alert.
The pork carnitas were sold at Aldi stores nationwide. While they’re no longer on shelves, some packages may still be sitting in home freezers.
The issue traces back to production dates earlier this month, April 1st and 2nd. The affected product is a 16-ounce tray labeled “Pork Carnitas SEASONED & SEARED PORK WITH JUICES SLOW COOKED WITH CITRUS.” If you spot a use-by date of June 30, 2025 or July 1, 2025 on the packaging, and the establishment number Est. 46049, you’ve got the one in question.
So far, no one has reported injuries. But if you’ve got the product, the guidance is clear: toss it or return it to the store – because that’s certainly not the kind of crunch you want in your carnitas.