Nationwide Recall ALERT – Popular Snack Pulled From Shelves!

A simple manufacturing mistake at one of America’s most trusted cookie brands has turned a bite-sized treat into a nationwide choking hazard, affecting families from coast to coast.

Story Snapshot

Mondelez Global voluntarily recalled Chips Ahoy! Baked Bites Brookie products due to cornstarch clumps created by an incorrect mixing process during production
The recall, first announced December 24, 2025, expanded six days later to include additional product codes and best-by dates affecting four package sizes nationwide
No illnesses or injuries have been reported, but the FDA warns the defect poses a choking risk particularly to young children and elderly consumers
Affected products bear best-by dates between May 9-18, 2026, and include specific UPC codes for caddies, pouches, and multi-packs

When Innovation Meets Manufacturing Reality

Chips Ahoy! carved out its place in American pantries back in 1963, becoming synonymous with classic chocolate chip cookies. The Baked Bites Brookie line represents a newer gamble—merging brownie and cookie into miniature, portable formats designed for busy families. This innovation aimed to capture the grab-and-go snack market, but an industrial mixing error transformed convenience into concern. During production, cornstarch failed to blend properly, forming small hard clumps that escaped initial quality checks. These clumps present a foreign body hazard, particularly dangerous for vulnerable populations who struggle with sudden obstructions in their airways.

The Recall Timeline and Scope

Mondelez Global initiated the voluntary recall on December 24, 2025, targeting specific batches sold at major retailers nationwide. Six days later, on December 30, the company expanded the recall after discovering one additional best-by date and two more Universal Product Codes affected by the mixing malfunction. The FDA officially listed the recall on its website February 4, 2026, cementing the alert’s reach. Four distinct package formats face recall: 22.4-ounce eight-count caddies, 2.8-ounce single pouches, 7.0-ounce five-count twelve-packs, and 1.4-ounce pouches. Each carries precise identification numbers and best-by dates stamped between May 9 and May 18, 2026.

What Went Wrong in Production

The culprit behind this recall is deceptively simple: cornstarch, a common baking ingredient used for texture and moisture control. During the manufacturing run, an incorrect mixing process prevented the cornstarch from distributing evenly throughout the cookie dough. Instead of blending smoothly, it formed concentrated clumps that hardened during baking. These dense pockets remained intact in the finished product, creating unpredictable choking hazards. Post-production quality audits eventually caught the defect, triggering Mondelez’s voluntary action. The company isolated the problem to specific production batches, sparing other Chips Ahoy! products and the broader Mondelez portfolio from contamination concerns.

Who Faces the Greatest Risk

Young children and elderly adults bear disproportionate risk from this manufacturing defect. Toddlers naturally explore foods with less caution, often swallowing before fully chewing, while their smaller airways magnify obstruction dangers. Elderly consumers face parallel threats: diminished swallowing reflexes, dental challenges, and medications that dry the mouth all complicate safe consumption of foods with unexpected textures. The bite-sized format of these cookies compounds the hazard—marketing emphasizes their small size as family-friendly, yet that very feature makes spotting hard clumps before ingestion nearly impossible. Fortunately, no injuries or illnesses have surfaced despite nationwide distribution, suggesting many consumers either avoided the affected batches or discovered the defect before swallowing.

Corporate Response and Consumer Action

Mondelez Global established a dedicated hotline at 1-855-535-5948, staffed Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, to field consumer questions and coordinate product returns. The company advises immediate disposal of any affected packages or contacting the hotline for guidance. This voluntary approach reflects corporate liability management and brand protection priorities—acting swiftly to prevent escalation into a public health crisis that could damage Chips Ahoy!’s six-decade reputation. The FDA’s role remains supervisory, listing the recall publicly and monitoring compliance without forcing Mondelez’s hand. Retailers, though unnamed in official statements, serve as frontline partners, pulling stock and processing returns.

Broader Implications for Snack Safety

This incident spotlights quality control vulnerabilities in high-volume snack production, where speed and efficiency sometimes clash with safety protocols. Bite-sized innovations proliferate across the industry—from mini cookies to snack packs—capitalizing on convenience trends and portion control marketing. Yet miniaturization introduces inspection challenges; smaller pieces mean more opportunities for defects to slip through automated systems designed for larger formats. Mondelez will likely overhaul mixing protocols and enhance real-time monitoring to prevent recurrence. Competitors may audit their own mini-snack lines, recognizing that consumer trust, once damaged by choking hazards, proves difficult to rebuild regardless of market dominance or brand legacy.

Consumers holding affected Chips Ahoy! Baked Bites Brookie products should verify package codes and best-by dates immediately. Dispose of any matching items or contact Mondelez through the recall hotline. This precautionary step costs minimal effort but eliminates a tangible risk to family members, particularly those most vulnerable to choking. Common sense dictates prioritizing safety over the inconvenience of discarding a few dollars’ worth of cookies—especially when the manufacturer offers direct support and no illnesses have yet occurred.