Short answer: If you have Brad’s Plant Based Crunchy Kale or Brad’s Veggie Chips Kale in the pantry, check the lot number and Best By date against the list below. If it matches, stop eating the chips and throw them away. On November 2, 2026, the maker announced a recall because the chips may contain thallium, a naturally occurring metal.
What happened
Snack Right Super Foods, Inc., which does business as Brad’s Raw Chips (Coral Gables, Florida), announced the recall on November 2, 2026. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published the notice on November 3. The company is recalling certain Brad’s Plant Based Crunchy Kale (2 oz) and Brad’s Veggie Chips Kale (3 oz) bags because they may contain thallium.
According to the notice, the recall started after the FDA told the company that tested products contained thallium. This followed an earlier step in May 2026, when the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) advised consumers not to eat certain Brad’s Plant Based products. CDPH had looked into an inquiry from one person with elevated thallium levels, bought samples at stores in the Sacramento area, and found elevated thallium in several varieties.
Which products are affected
The products were sold in bags under the Brad’s Plant Based name. Check the lot number and Best By date printed on your bag:
- Brad’s Crunchy Kale, Original, 2 oz: UPC 813104021679; lots 33525-1, 33525-2 and 33525-3 (Best By Feb. 1, 2027), lot 34525-1 (Best By Feb. 11, 2027) and lot 35125-2 (Best By Feb. 17, 2027)
- Brad’s Crunchy Kale, Cheeze It Up, 2 oz: UPC 813104021877; lot 35025-3 (Best By Feb. 16, 2027)
- Brad’s Crunchy Kale, Radical Ranch, 2 oz: UPC 813104020726; lot 29425-1 (Best By Dec. 21, 2026)
- Brad’s Veggie Chips Kale, 3 oz: UPC 854615002054; lot 33225-3 (Best By Jan. 28, 2027), lot 33325-2 (Jan. 29, 2027), lot 33425-1 (Jan. 30, 2027) and lot 33525-1 (Feb. 1, 2027)
The company says the products were distributed nationwide through KeHE Distributors and United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI), and sold directly to five individual consumers. It estimates about 25,000 bags (roughly 2,097 cases) are in commerce, with distribution between October 2025 and December 2025.
What is thallium, and why kale?
The notice describes thallium as a naturally occurring metal found in soil and in sulfur-based minerals. Plants can take it up, especially vegetables in the brassica family, such as cabbage and radish. Kale belongs to that family.
The company says its manufacturing process did not introduce the contaminant. It explains that dehydration removes about 85 to 90 percent of the product’s water, which concentrates elements already present in the fresh kale. The FDA notice says that acute or chronic exposure to thallium at relatively high levels can cause serious health effects, including gastroenteritis, damage to peripheral nerves and hair loss.
What you should do
- Check your pantry, desk drawer and lunchboxes. Look for the brand name, the UPC and the lot code on the bag.
- If your bag matches, stop eating it and throw it away. The notice asks consumers to stop consuming the product immediately and discard it.
- Do not return it to the store. The company states that refunds are not being offered and the product should not be returned to the place of purchase.
- Questions? The company lists Alexa Olvera at [email protected], Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and says to expect a reply within one business day.
- If you are worried about your health, talk to a health care provider. The notice says people who think they may have had adverse effects from these products should do so.
What this does not mean
This recall covers specific lots of specific products. It is not a warning about fresh kale or other vegetables, and the notice does not say that other kale chips are affected. If you cook with kale, nothing in this announcement changes how you shop for or prepare fresh leaves.
A habit worth keeping
Dated recalls are easy to miss, so it helps to know what is in your pantry. Keep snacks in their original bags, or note the brand and lot code, until they are finished. Our guides on keeping Thanksgiving leftovers safe, keeping fresh herbs green and storing apples and pears cover good storage habits. For recall details, always rely on the FDA notice itself.
This article reports a published recall notice and is not medical advice. Anyone with health concerns should speak to a doctor.
Sources
- Snack Right Super Foods, Inc. dba Brad’s Raw Chips Recalls Brad’s Crunchy Kale & Veggie Chips Due to Potential Thallium Contamination — U.S. Food and Drug Administration, company announcement of Nov. 2, 2026, published Nov. 3, 2026
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