Texas Warns Against Great Value 'Dino' Chicken Nuggets Over Possible Lead Contamination

Consumers advised to check freezers and avoid eating the affected 29-ounce bags of nuggets.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:04pm

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An extreme close-up X-ray photograph revealing the internal structure of a frozen chicken nugget, with bright ghostly lines highlighting the presence of lead contamination.An X-ray view exposes the hidden dangers within a seemingly innocuous frozen chicken nugget.Houston Today

The Texas Department of State Health Services is warning consumers not to eat certain Great Value frozen dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets sold at Walmart after a federal health alert cited possible contamination with a high level of lead. The affected 29-ounce bags have a best by date of Feb. 10, 2027 and were distributed nationwide.

Why it matters

Lead exposure, especially in young children, can have serious health consequences including developmental delays, learning difficulties, and other issues. This recall highlights the importance of food safety regulations and the need for vigilance by consumers to avoid potentially contaminated products.

The details

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the health alert after routine public health sampling detected what officials described as a potentially harmful level of lead in the Great Value dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets. The affected packages have been pulled from store shelves, but officials say consumers may still have the nuggets in their freezers. Anyone who has the product should not eat it and should either throw it away or return it to the store.

  • The health alert was issued on April 2, 2026.

The players

Texas Department of State Health Services

The state health agency that issued the warning about the possible lead contamination in the Great Value chicken nuggets.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

The federal agency that issued the initial health alert about the potentially harmful level of lead detected in the chicken nuggets.

Walmart

The retailer that sold the affected 29-ounce bags of Great Value dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets nationwide.

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What they’re saying

“There is no safe level of lead in food.”

— Texas Department of State Health Services

What’s next

Consumers who have the affected Great Value chicken nuggets should either throw them away or return them to the store where they were purchased.

The takeaway

This recall highlights the importance of food safety regulations and the need for consumers to be vigilant about checking for and avoiding potentially contaminated products, especially those that could pose risks to vulnerable populations like young children.