Undeclared Milk Prompts Recall of Smarter Snacks Vegan Protein Puff 2026

Canadian health authorities are warning consumers with milk allergies to stay away from a chili and lime flavored plant-based snack after routine testing turned up an ingredient that never made it onto the label. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says Smarter Snacks brand Vegan Protein Puff Chili & Lime Flavored contains milk that was not declared, a labeling gap that could trigger a serious or even life-threatening reaction in someone with a dairy allergy or sensitivity.

The affected snack is sold in 50 g bags nationwide, including through online retailers, making the reach of this warning broad. Anyone who has this product in their pantry and has a milk allergy is being told, in plain terms, not to eat it. The irony is notable given the product markets itself as a vegan, plant-based protein snack, a category shoppers with dairy allergies often turn to specifically because it is expected to be free of animal-derived ingredients.

What Products Are Being Recalled?

The warning covers a single item: Smarter Snacks brand Vegan Protein Puff Chili & Lime Flavored, sold in 50 g packages. The UPC on the package is 8 684041 306837, and the specific batch is marked with the code ’05/05/2026 SS 125 L1′. Consumers should check their cupboards against this exact code before assuming a bag on hand is unaffected.

• Brand: Smarter Snacks
• Product: Vegan Protein Puff Chili & Lime Flavored
• Size: 50 g
• UPC: 8 684041 306837
• Code: 05/05/2026 SS 125 L1
• Distribution: National, including online

Why Was This Recall Issued?

CFIA testing detected milk in the product that was never listed among the declared ingredients. For most people, this would go unnoticed, but for someone with a milk allergy, even trace amounts can set off symptoms ranging from hives to anaphylaxis. Because the label gave no warning, consumers had no way to protect themselves before purchase or before eating the snack.

The agency has classified this as a Class 1 situation, its most serious designation, reserved for cases where there is a reasonable probability that using the product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death. As of the warning’s publication, CFIA notes there have been no reported illnesses or allergic reactions tied to the product so far. The investigation that led to this warning was triggered directly by the agency’s own laboratory test results, not by a consumer complaint, which is itself notable since it means the issue was caught before it produced any known harm.

Where Were These Products Sold?

Distribution is listed as national, with the product also available online, meaning bags of the puff could be sitting on shelves or in shipped orders across the country. Because the sales channel spans both physical retail and e-commerce, CFIA is casting a wide net with this notice to ensure it reaches as many affected households as possible, including shoppers who bought the snack through a website rather than in a store.

What Should You Do?

• Check your pantry for Smarter Snacks Vegan Protein Puff Chili & Lime Flavored, 50 g, UPC 8 684041 306837, code ’05/05/2026 SS 125 L1′
• If you or someone in your household is allergic or sensitive to milk, do not consume the product
• Do not serve, sell, or distribute the affected snack to others
• Watch for allergic reaction symptoms if the product was already consumed, and seek medical attention if needed

Consumers looking for more background on food allergies, or wanting to report a labeling concern of their own, can find resources through the CFIA’s public information channels. The agency also encourages people to sign up for recall notification emails so future alerts reach them directly rather than relying on word of mouth or news coverage.

Official Statement

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it is ‘conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of this or other products,’ and that the warning was ‘triggered by Canadian Food Inspection Agency test results.’ The agency continues to monitor the situation and has committed to updating the public if the investigation expands to cover additional products or lots.

For questions, the public can reach CFIA at 1-613-773-2342 or by email at information@inspection.gc.ca. Media inquiries can be directed to 613-773-6600 or cfia.media.acia@inspection.gc.ca. The identification number for this alert is RA-82689, and it was originally published on September 26, 2026.