FOOD SAFETY RECALL — THALLIUM
Check Brad's kale snacks by four identifiers. Stop eating an exact match.
FDA posted a company recall November 3 covering 11 lots of Brad's Plant Based Crunchy Kale and Veggie Chips Kale that may contain thallium. The products were distributed nationwide; the reviewed records do not identify a Rockland store, purchase or illness.
What to do now
- Match all four fields: product and bag size, UPC, lot and Best By date.
- Exact match: stop consuming it immediately and discard it.
- Do not return it: the FDA-posted company notice says refunds are not offered and the product should not go back to the store.
- Possible health effect: contact a health-care provider if you believe you became ill after eating a listed product.
The recalled products and lots
| Product | UPC | Lot | Best By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crunchy Kale Original, 2 oz | 813104021679 | 33525-1, 33525-2, 33525-3 | Feb. 1, 2027 |
| Crunchy Kale Original, 2 oz | 813104021679 | 34525-1 | Feb. 11, 2027 |
| Crunchy Kale Original, 2 oz | 813104021679 | 35125-2 | Feb. 17, 2027 |
| Crunchy Kale Cheeze It Up, 2 oz | 813104021877 | 35025-3 | Feb. 16, 2027 |
| Crunchy Kale Radical Ranch, 2 oz | 813104020726 | 29425-1 | Dec. 21, 2026 |
| Veggie Chips Kale, 3 oz | 854615002054 | 33225-3 | Jan. 28, 2027 |
| Veggie Chips Kale, 3 oz | 854615002054 | 33325-2 | Jan. 29, 2027 |
| Veggie Chips Kale, 3 oz | 854615002054 | 33425-1 | Jan. 30, 2027 |
| Veggie Chips Kale, 3 oz | 854615002054 | 33525-1 | Feb. 1, 2027 |
Why the recall was issued
The FDA-posted company notice says thallium is a naturally occurring metal that plants can take up from soil. Exposure at relatively high levels can cause serious health effects, including gastrointestinal illness, peripheral-nerve damage and hair loss. FDA's separate thallium page says adverse effects from food exposure are uncommon, but high doses can be severe.
The notice says California health officials investigated after an inquiry involving one person with elevated thallium levels, then found elevated levels in multiple Brad's varieties sampled at Sacramento-area stores. FDA advised the company of thallium in tested products. The company says dehydration removes about 85% to 90% of the kale's water, concentrating elements already present in the fresh plant; it says manufacturing did not introduce the contaminant.
Nationwide distribution creates a local check—not a local incident claim
The company estimates that about 25,000 bags, or roughly 2,097 cases, are in commerce. It says the products moved nationwide through KeHE Distributors and United Natural Foods, Inc. between October and December 2025, with five additional direct-to-consumer sales. That is enough to justify a Rockland pantry check, but it does not prove a Rockland retailer sold a recalled lot.
California's earlier warning is broader than the recall
The current FDA-posted recall names specific lots of four products. California's May 19 advisory named eight Brad's kale products and told consumers not to eat any Brad's-brand product containing kale after testing found elevated thallium in multiple varieties. The records therefore do not support treating an unlisted Brad's kale product as cleared. If you have another Brad's kale snack, check the California advisory and contact the company rather than assuming it is safe because it is absent from the 11-lot recall table.
For recall questions, the company lists alexandra@thesnackright.com, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Eastern, with a response expected within one business day.
What changes for a Rockland resident: check Brad's kale snacks in the pantry against the exact product, size, UPC, lot and Best By date. Stop eating and discard an exact match; do not return it to the store. Do not assume another Brad's kale product is cleared while California's broader advisory remains posted.
Primary records checked November 3, 2026, at 1:54 p.m. EST: FDA's November 3 company-recall posting ↗, FDA's thallium information page ↗ and the California Department of Public Health's May 19 advisory ↗. The Rockland Edit did not independently test the product or verify a Rockland sale, exposure or illness. The FDA page carries a company announcement; FDA states that it posts company recall announcements as a public service and does not endorse the product or company.