Metal Fragments Prompt Health Alert for Aldi Pork Carnitas Nationwide

Heads up, Aldi shoppers: A recent public health alert has been issued for a popular 16-ounce tray of "Pork Carnitas" sold at Aldi supermarkets across the country. The warning comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which flagged the product after pieces of metal were potentially found inside.

According to FSIS, the pork carnitas packages in question display the establishment number "Est. 46049" inside the USDA inspection mark. The affected items were distributed nationwide and feature use-by dates of 06/30/2025 and 07/01/2025.

The issue came to light when Cargill Meat Solutions, the producer, discovered equipment damage during a routine check, raising the possibility that shards of metal ended up in the carnitas. The company promptly notified FSIS, prompting the alert.

Thankfully, there have been no reported injuries tied to this product. The FSIS emphasized that, while the carnitas are no longer on store shelves, consumers should check their refrigerators and freezers. If you have these pork carnitas at home, either toss them or take them back to Aldi—definitely do not eat them.

The agency is not issuing a recall because the product is already off the market, but they're pretty clear: "Do not consume." If this isn't the universe telling us to double-check our midnight snack stash, I don't know what is.

This isn’t the first time Aldi has faced metal contamination issues. Earlier this year, their Casa Mamita Chicken & Cheese Taquitos and thousands of oyster cracker packages were recalled for similar reasons. It's starting to feel like metal detectors might be the next must-have kitchen gadget.