Undeclared Soy Prompts Recall of J. HIGGS Loaded Bacon & Cheddar Chips

Saratoga Potato Chips LLC of Fort Wayne, Indiana, has recalled two date codes of 7.75-ounce J. HIGGS Loaded Bacon and Cheddar Potato Chips because the bags may contain soy that is not listed on the label. The chips were sold at Save A Lot stores in five states, and no illnesses or injuries have been reported so far.

The company announcement is dated September 16, 2026, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration posted it on September 18, 2026. For anyone with a soy allergy or severe soy sensitivity, the concern is direct: eating the chips could cause a serious or even life-threatening allergic reaction.

If you shop at Save A Lot in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee or Maryland, it is worth checking your pantry for this snack.

Recalled Products at a Glance

The recall covers a single product in one package size, limited to two Best if USED BY codes. Bags with other dates are not part of this recall, according to the announcement.

• Product: J. HIGGS Loaded Bacon and Cheddar Potato Chips
• Package size: 7.75 ounces
• UPC: 0-51933-31645-4
• Date codes: Best if USED BY DEC 11 26 and Best if USED BY DEC 18 26
• Where to find the code: top right corner of the bag
• Packaging: flexible, multi-layered, laminated metalized package
• Sold at: Save A Lot stores

What Triggered the Recall

The problem is an undeclared allergen. The affected bags may contain soy, but soy is not identified on the packaging, so a person who avoids it has no way to know from the label that the product could be unsafe for them.

According to the announcement, the issue was identified through the company’s own review, which led to the recall. The notice does not explain how soy may have entered the product, and it does not say how many bags are affected. The recall is described as ongoing.

One detail in the notice is inconsistent. It lists the recall initiation date as September 15, 2025, while the announcement and FDA publication dates fall in September 2026. Consumers should rely on the date codes printed on the bag rather than on that initiation date.

Where Were These Products Sold?

The recalled chips were distributed in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Maryland. The company says they were sold in Save A Lot stores. The announcement names no other retailers and no online sales.

Shoppers outside those five states are unlikely to have the product, though anyone who bought a bag in a recalled state and carried it elsewhere should still check the code.

Who Should Be Concerned

The people most at risk are those with a soy allergy or severe sensitivity to soy. Soy is one of the major food allergens that must be declared on U.S. food labels, which is why an omission on a package is treated as a safety problem.

Allergic reactions to food vary widely. General medical guidance says symptoms can range from hives, itching or stomach upset to swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing, or anaphylaxis, which needs emergency treatment. Anyone who has eaten the recalled chips and feels unwell should seek medical attention promptly. This is general guidance and was not part of the company announcement.

Steps Consumers Should Take

The company is asking anyone who bought the product to return it. Here is what to do:

• Look at the top right corner of any 7.75-ounce J. HIGGS Loaded Bacon and Cheddar Potato Chips bag you own.
• Check whether it reads Best if USED BY DEC 11 26 or Best if USED BY DEC 18 26.
• If it does, do not eat the chips, especially if you or someone in your household has a soy allergy.
• Return the package to the place of purchase for a full refund.
• Call Saratoga Potato Chips at 1-260-969-0066 with any questions.

Households where someone has a soy allergy should also keep the bag away from the person at risk while arranging its return.

What the Company Said

In its announcement, Saratoga Potato Chips said people with a soy allergy or severe sensitivity run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the products. The company urged consumers who purchased 7.75-ounce packages of the chips to return them for a full refund. It also reported that no illnesses or injuries had been linked to the problem to date.

The FDA posted the notice as a public service. Under its standard wording, the agency does not endorse either the product or the company. This is a voluntary company recall, and the FDA has not announced any separate enforcement action in this notice.

Further updates, if any, would appear on the FDA’s recalls page or come from the company directly. Consumers with concerns about a product they have already eaten can also report a problem to the FDA through its online reporting portal.