Sugar Foods Recalls Kroger Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons for Salmonella Risk — Check Your Pantry If You Shopped at Kroger Between March and April 2026
If you picked up a bag of Kroger Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons between March and April 2026, stop and check your pantry right now. Sugar Foods LLC issued a voluntary recall on May 15, 2026 for specific lots of Kroger Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons — 5-ounce pouches with UPC 0 11110 81353 4 — due to potential Salmonella contamination linked to milk powder used as an ingredient in the product. No illnesses have been reported, but the FDA is involved and the recall is active.
Kroger Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons Salmonella Recall — Key Facts
| Field | Detail |
| Recalled Product | Kroger Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons |
| Package Size | 5 oz pouch |
| UPC Code | 0 11110 81353 4 |
| Recall Announced | May 15, 2026 |
| FDA Published | May 18, 2026 |
| Contamination Risk | Potential Salmonella in milk powder ingredient |
| Illnesses Reported | None as of May 15, 2026 |
| Distribution Period | March 7, 2026 – April 7, 2026 |
| States Affected | AL, AR, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MI, MO, MS, OH, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV |
| Recall Type | Voluntary — initiated by Sugar Foods LLC |
| Recall Reason | Third-party supplier recall by California Dairies, Inc. for milk powder |
| Consumer Contact | 332-240-6676 (24/7) |
| Media Contact | Krista Locke — 805-396-5000 |
| Last Updated | June 2, 2026 |
Which Kroger Homestyle Cheese Garlic Crouton Bags Are Recalled?
Only specific “Best If Used By” dates are affected. Check the back of your bag for these dates:
- BEST IF USED BY FEB 17 27
- BEST IF USED BY FEB 18 27
- BEST IF USED BY FEB 27 27
- BEST IF USED BY FEB 28 27
- BEST IF USED BY MAR 6 27
- BEST IF USED BY MAR 9 27
- BEST IF USED BY MAR 21 27
- BEST IF USED BY APR 1 27
- BEST IF USED BY APR 7 27
If your bag shows any of these dates alongside UPC 0 11110 81353 4, do not eat the product. Set it aside and call Sugar Foods at 332-240-6676.
Why Were Kroger Croutons Recalled — What Is the Salmonella Risk Here?
The contamination did not originate with Sugar Foods directly. The affected milk powder was supplied by California Dairies, Inc. to seasoning supplier Solina USA, and incorporated into the seasoning blend that Sugar Foods purchases from Solina USA and applies to the croutons. Sugar Foods initiated this recall following a third-party supplier-initiated recall by California Dairies, Inc. due to concerns about potential Salmonella contamination in milk powder.
There is an important detail here: the affected seasoning batches tested negative for Salmonella prior to use. Sugar Foods acted out of caution because the milk powder ingredient traced back to a recalled lot — not because Salmonella was detected in the croutons themselves. That context matters, but it does not change what you should do if you have the product at home: do not eat it.
Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella may experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis, and arthritis.
Salmonella symptoms typically begin about six hours after infection and can last four to seven days. Many people recover without treatment, but children under 5, adults over 65, and those with weakened immune systems face higher risk of severe illness.
For context on how food safety recalls can lead to legal action and what your consumer rights are when a recalled product causes harm, see our breakdown of the Straus Family Creamery ice cream recall and what consumers can do when a food product is found to be defective. And if you want to understand the broader landscape of when food recalls become class action lawsuits, our Giant Eagle baked pita chips Salmonella recall coverage explains how that process typically unfolds.
Which States Are Affected by the Kroger Crouton Recall?
The products were distributed between March 7, 2026 and April 7, 2026 to Kroger stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.
That is 17 states, all Kroger locations. If you shop at a Kroger banner store in any of these states — including Kroger, Ralph’s, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, King Soopers, or Smith’s — and purchased croutons during March or April 2026, check the UPC and best-by date on your bag now.
If you are outside these 17 states, the recalled product was not distributed to your area based on current recall information. You can verify the latest distribution details directly with the FDA recall notice.
What Should You Do If You Bought the Recalled Kroger Croutons?
- Do not eat the product. Even if the bag has been open and you have eaten some without getting sick, stop using the rest immediately.
- Check the UPC and best-by date against the list above. Both must match for your product to be recalled. The UPC is 0 11110 81353 4.
- Do not throw the bag away yet if you or anyone in your household has experienced symptoms. Keep the packaging as evidence.
- Call Sugar Foods at 332-240-6676 — available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — for information on a refund or replacement.
- See a doctor immediately if you or a family member develops symptoms including fever, diarrhea, nausea, or stomach cramps and may have eaten these croutons. Tell your doctor about the recalled product.
- If you were injured, consult a product liability attorney before accepting any company offer. Food safety illnesses from recalled products can give rise to individual legal claims separate from any company refund. Most attorneys handling food safety cases work on contingency — no fee unless they recover for you.
Kroger Crouton Recall — What Happened and When
| Milestone | Date |
| California Dairies, Inc. initiates milk powder recall | Prior to May 15, 2026 |
| Recalled milk powder incorporated into Solina USA seasoning | March–April 2026 period |
| Sugar Foods distributes recalled crouton lots to Kroger stores | March 7, 2026 – April 7, 2026 |
| Sugar Foods announces voluntary recall | May 15, 2026 |
| FDA publishes recall notice | May 18, 2026 |
| Illnesses reported | None as of May 15, 2026 |
Kroger Cheese Garlic Crouton Recall — Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have gotten sick to get a refund for the recalled Kroger croutons?
No. Sugar Foods is offering assistance to all consumers who purchased the affected product, regardless of whether illness occurred. Call 332-240-6676 for refund or replacement information.
Were Salmonella actually found in the recalled Kroger croutons?
The seasoning batches tested negative for Salmonella before use. The recall is a precautionary measure triggered by the upstream California Dairies milk powder recall. No confirmed Salmonella contamination in the finished crouton product has been announced, and no illnesses have been reported.
Can I return the recalled croutons to Kroger for a refund?
Contact Sugar Foods at 332-240-6676 first for guidance on the refund process. You may also be able to return the product directly to your Kroger store — bring the bag with the UPC and best-by date visible.
My bag has a different best-by date. Is it still recalled?
Only the nine specific best-by dates listed above are part of this recall. If your date does not appear on that list, your product is not part of the current recall. When in doubt, call Sugar Foods at 332-240-6676.
I ate some of the recalled croutons and feel fine. Should I still see a doctor?
Salmonella symptoms typically appear six hours to six days after exposure and can last up to a week. If you feel well, monitor your health closely over the next several days. If you develop fever, diarrhea, nausea, or stomach cramps, contact your doctor and mention the recalled product.
Could this recall lead to a class action lawsuit against Kroger or Sugar Foods?
No class action has been filed as of June 2, 2026. However, food contamination recalls involving Salmonella — particularly when consumers suffer documented illness — are among the most common triggers for product liability class actions. If you were made ill, a free consultation with a consumer rights lawyer is worth pursuing to understand your options.
Sources for This Kroger Crouton Salmonella Recall Article
- FDA — Sugar Foods Issues Recall of Specific Lots of Kroger Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons Due to Possible Health Risk, May 18, 2026: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sugar-foods-issues-recall-specific-lots-kroger-homestyle-cheese-garlic-croutons-due-possible-health
Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against the official FDA recall notice published May 18, 2026. Last Updated: June 2, 2026.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you believe you have been harmed by a recalled product, consult a qualified attorney about your specific situation.
About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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