Ventura Foods, based in Irvine, California, has voluntarily recalled over 3,500 cases of various salad dressings due to possible contamination with “foreign objects.” According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the issue stems from black plastic planting material found in granulated onion, an ingredient used in the affected products.

The recall, initiated on November 6, 2025, has been classified as Class II by the FDA, meaning the products may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health effects, with a remote probability of serious harm.

The dressings were distributed to seven retailers, including Costco and Publix, across 42 locations in 27 states:

•  Arkansas
•  Colorado
•  Florida
•  Georgia
•  Illinois
•  Indiana
•  Kansas
•  Kentucky
•  Louisiana
•  Maryland
•  Michigan
•  Minnesota
•  Missouri
•  Nebraska
•  New Hampshire
•  New Jersey
•  North Carolina
•  North Dakota
•  Ohio
•  Oklahoma
•  Oregon
•  South Carolina
•  Texas
•  Virginia
•  Washington
•  Wisconsin

(Note: Some sources mention distribution to one additional customer in Costa Rica.)
The recalled products are primarily large, food-service sizes used in delis, food courts, and prepared foods. They include:

•  Creamy Poblano Avocado Ranch Dressing and Dip
•  Ventura Caesar Dressing
•  Pepper Mill Regal Caesar Dressing
•  Pepper Mill Creamy Caesar Dressing
•  Caesar Dressing (used in Costco Service Deli and Food Court)
•  Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch (food-service version only; no consumer bottles of Hidden Valley Ranch sold in stores are affected)

Costco previously issued a separate alert in November for prepared items using the affected Caesar dressing, including certain Caesar salads and chicken sandwiches sold in delis and food courts (with sell-by dates now expired).

Consumers who may have purchased these products—or items prepared with them—should discard them or return them for a full refund. No illnesses have been reported in connection with this recall.