Popular Ready-Made Meals Sold at Publix, Kroger, and Wegmans Recalled Over Metal Fragments

Busy weeknights are exactly why so many of us keep ready-made meals in the refrigerator. Whether it's dinner after a long day at work or an easy option when no one feels like cooking, prepared meals can make life a little bit easier. 

Before you heat one up, though, there's a new FDA recall you should know about.

Ukrop's Homestyle Foods has voluntarily issued a ready-made meal recall involving prepared meals sold at Publix, Kroger, Wegmans, and other grocery stores. Unfortunately, a metal fragment was discovered during production.

See If Yours Is Included

The grocery recall includes six refrigerated products sold in deli departments in Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The affected products include:

• Baked Spaghetti (16-ounce and 32-ounce)

• Chicken Cobbler (16-ounce and 32-ounce)

• Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce (17-ounce and 34-ounce)

They were sold at several retailers, including:

• Publix

• Kroger

• Wegmans

• Food Lion

• Harris Teeter

• Libbie Market

• Ukrop's Market Hall

The recalled meals have "Best By" dates ranging from July 6, 2026, through August 5, 2026. 

A complete list of UPC codes and product information is available in the FDA recall notice.

What Prompted the Recall?

The recall was triggered after a customer reported finding a piece of metal in one of the company's fully cooked products, according to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. Following that complaint, Ukrop's conducted a routine internal review and discovered a small sliver of aluminum in one of the baking pans used to prepare several of its products. The next day, inspectors identified a similar metal fragment in a separate Chicken Cobbler item, prompting the company to voluntarily recall all products made using that type of pan.

Ukrop's traced the issue to baking pans supplied by one of its vendors and has since notified the supplier, which has taken steps to remove the affected pan lots from distribution. At this time, no injuries have been reported.

If You Purchased One

If you have one of the recalled meals, don't eat it. Instead, return it to the store where you purchased it for a full refund or dispose of it safely. 

If you have any other questions, you can also contact Ukrop's Homestyle Foods Monday - Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm EST, at 804-340-3050, 

A Quick Check Before Dinner

Before tonight's dinner, take a minute to check the label if you've recently picked up one of these prepared meals. 

It's a quick step that can help you avoid an unexpected surprise and keep an ordinary weeknight meal exactly the way it should be.

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