12-oz. metal cans containing "SPAM Classic" with "BEST BY AUG 2026"…
Recalled by Hormel Foods Corporation
Meat & poultry recall
Hormel Foods Corporation
Public Health Alert
The USDA issued a public health alert to warn consumers about this product. This is used when a recall was not requested or is not possible — for example, when the product is no longer being sold — but people may still have it at home.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) has issued a public health alert for 12-oz. metal cans containing "SPAM Classic" with "BEST BY AUG 2026"… from Hormel Foods Corporation. The alert was issued on September 16, 2023. The USDA issued a public health alert to warn consumers about this product. This is used when a recall was not requested or is not possible — for example, when the product is no longer being sold — but people may still have it at home.
Below is a plain-English summary of what was recalled, why it was recalled, how to tell whether you have the affected product, and what steps you can take. For the complete and most current details, you can view the USDA record linked further down this page.
What was recalled?
This recall covers 12-oz. metal cans containing "SPAM Classic" with "BEST BY AUG 2026"…. The company behind the recall is Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Texas. The USDA describes the product as: “12-oz. metal cans containing "SPAM Classic" with "BEST BY AUG 2026" date and lot code A08173 printed on the bottom of the can.”
Why was 12-oz. metal cans containing "SPAM Classic" with "BEST BY AUG 2026"… recalled?
According to the USDA, the stated reason for the recall is: “Processing Defect. WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2023 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for canned meat product due to under processing. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers are aware that this prod….” In plain terms, this recall relates to foreign material.
A foreign material recall means that pieces of something which should not be in food — such as metal, plastic, or glass — may be present. These can pose a choking hazard or cause injury. Recalls like these are issued to remove the affected product before anyone is hurt.
What should you do?
If you think you may have bought 12-oz. metal cans containing "SPAM Classic" with "BEST BY AUG 2026"…, compare it against the product description and identifying codes before using it.
The general guidance for a matching product is to stop using it and follow the instructions in the official USDA recall notice, which may include a repair, replacement, refund, or safe disposal. When in doubt, contact Hormel Foods Corporation or your local health authority.
About this recall
This recall was distributed in Texas. RecallRadar summarizes recall information from public USDA data to make it easier to understand. We are an independent service and are not affiliated with the USDA or any government agency, so please always refer to the official source for the authoritative record — and note the “last synced” date shown on this page, since recall details can change over time.
Full recall details
- Date reported
- September 16, 2023
- Recall started
- September 16, 2023
- Distributed in
- Texas
Processing Defect. WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2023 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for canned meat product due to under processing. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers are aware that this product should not be consumed.Show full text ▾
Processing Defect. WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2023 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for canned meat product due to under processing. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers are aware that this product should not be consumed. A recall was not requested because it is believed that the product is no longer available for consumers to purchase. The canned meat item was produced by Hormel Foods Corp. Services, LLC, an Austin, Minn. establishment, on Aug. 17, 2023. The following product is subject to the public health alert [ view labels ]: 12-oz. metal cans containing "SPAM Classic" with "BEST BY AUG 2026" date and lot code A08173 printed on the bottom of the can. The product bears establishment number "EST. 199" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The product involved in this alert was shipped to H.E.B. retail locations in Texas; no other retailers are involved in this alert. The problem was discovered when the firm reported that they inadvertently shipped product that may not have been adequately processed to reach commercial sterility. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider. FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers' pantries or refrigerators. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. Consumers with questions about this PHA can contact Hormel Foods' Consumer Engagement Team at 1-800-523-4635 or cresponse@hormel.com. Members of the media with questions about this PHA can contact Hormel Foods' Public Relations Group at 507-437-5611 or media@hormel.com. Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov . For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/ .What you can do
Check whether any product you have matches the description and codes above. If it does, stop using it and follow the instructions in the official recall notice. When in doubt, contact the company or your local health authority.
Quick answers
Why was 12-oz. metal cans containing "SPAM Classic" with "BEST BY AUG 2026"… recalled?+
According to the USDA: Processing Defect.
How serious is this recall?+
Public Health Alert. The USDA issued a public health alert to warn consumers about this product. This is used when a recall was not requested or is not possible — for example, when the product is no longer being sold — but people may still have it at home.
What should I do if I have 12-oz. metal cans containing "SPAM Classic" with "BEST BY AUG 2026"…?+
Compare your product against the description and identifying codes on this page. If it matches, stop using it and follow the instructions in the official recall notice — this usually means returning it for a refund or discarding it. When in doubt, contact the company or your local health authority.
Opens the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) data for this recall.
Recall number: USDA-PHA-09162023-01. Information last synced from the FDA on July 5, 2026.