Did Walmart recall donuts? A detailed look at the 2025 bakery item recall

October 22, 2025 •

3 min read

In early 2025, a manufacturer voluntarily recalled over 2 million baked goods, including products sold at major retailers, sparking consumer questions such as, 'did Walmart recall donuts?'. The situation, initiated by FGF Brands, involved a precautionary measure over potential Listeria contamination, but it is important to understand the details and which products were affected.

Quick Summary

A voluntary recall by manufacturer FGF Brands in early 2025 involved donuts and other baked goods sold at various retailers, including Walmart, due to a precautionary Listeria concern. The recall is complete, and current products are safe.

Key Points

Manufacturer Initiated: The 2025 donut recall was voluntary and initiated by the manufacturer, FGF Brands, not by Walmart directly.
Precautionary Measure: The recall was a precautionary action taken due to environmental findings of Listeria at a facility, not because of positive product tests.
Recall is Complete: The recall was completed in early 2025, and all affected products were removed from the market.
Current Products Safe: Donuts and other baked goods currently on store shelves at Walmart and other retailers are safe to eat.
No Illnesses Reported: There were no illnesses reported in connection with the FGF Brands donut recall.
Affects Specific Brands: The recall covered 60 different baked products, including those sold at Walmart and Dunkin'.
Separate from Other Recalls: The donut recall was a different event from the November 2024 recall of Great Value cheese danishes and cinnamon rolls due to plastic contamination.

Understanding the Voluntary Donut Recall in 2025

In January and February of 2025, news of a massive food recall spread across North America, causing concern among shoppers. The central question for many was, 'Did Walmart recall donuts?' The short answer is that while donuts sold at Walmart were affected, the recall was not initiated by Walmart itself but by the manufacturer, FGF Brands, LLC. The voluntary recall affected over 2 million baked goods, sold under various brand names, and was undertaken as a precautionary measure. The manufacturer acted after environmental testing at one of its U.S. facilities revealed non-product related findings of Listeria monocytogenes.

The FGF Brands Recall Explained

FGF Brands, a wholesaler supplying baked goods to numerous retailers, including Walmart and Dunkin', initiated the voluntary recall. The recall was prompted by concerns over potential Listeria contamination detected during environmental testing at a U.S. facility. While no products or food contact surfaces tested positive for the bacteria, the recall of over 60 baked products, including various types of donuts, was a precautionary step. {Link: FGF Brands website https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/food/story/donut-manufacturer-addresses-baked-goods-recall-donuts-safe-118650034}

How Recalls Work: The Retailer vs. Manufacturer Role

When a recall involves products sold at a major retailer like Walmart, it's typically the manufacturer who initiates the recall, not the retailer. Manufacturers are responsible for monitoring their products and facilities and notifying the FDA of any potential safety issues. Retailers, in turn, remove affected products from sale and help communicate the recall information to consumers through various channels, including press releases and in-store notifications.

Important Distinctions: The Donut Recall vs. Other Recent Incidents

It is easy to conflate different food safety events. Here is a comparison to clarify the specifics of the FGF Brands donut recall and another notable Walmart-related incident in late 2024 involving Great Value bakery items.


Feature	FGF Brands Donut Recall (Jan/Feb 2025)	Great Value Bakery Recall (Nov 2024)
Recalling Party	FGF Brands, LLC	J.M. Smucker Company LLC
Product(s)	Donuts, crullers, fritters, cinnamon sticks	Cheese Danishes, Cinnamon Rolls
Issue	Precautionary environmental Listeria concern	Potential plastic contamination
Retailer Involvement	Products sold at Walmart and other retailers	Exclusively sold at Walmart (Great Value brand)
Illness Reported	No illnesses reported	Class II recall; risk of reversible health consequences
Current Status	Recall completed, products safe	Recall ongoing at the time of reporting

What You Need to Know About Listeria

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause listeriosis, a serious infection, particularly dangerous for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, newborns, and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms can include fever, headache, and other flu-like symptoms. While the FGF Brands recall was a precautionary measure without confirmed product contamination, it underscores the importance of food safety. The CDC reports that Listeria is a significant cause of foodborne illness deaths in the U.S..

Next Steps for Affected Customers

As the FGF Brands recall was completed in early 2025, any affected products would have been removed from shelves months ago. If a customer had purchased one of the recalled items before this time, the recommended action was to discard it or return it for a refund. Customers purchasing donuts from Walmart now can be confident they are safe.

Conclusion: The Final Word on the Donut Recall

In conclusion, while a voluntary recall involving donuts sold at Walmart did occur in early 2025, it was initiated by the manufacturer, FGF Brands, due to a precautionary Listeria concern detected during environmental testing. No product contamination was confirmed, no illnesses were reported, and the recall is complete. All current products are safe, and this event serves as an example of manufacturers and retailers working together for food safety.

For additional details on recalled food products, consumers can always visit the official FDA website, which provides information on all food safety recalls. {Link: FDA website https://www.ksnt.com/news/kansas/2-million-donut-products-recalled-nationwide-over-listeria-risk-fda/}

Note: Another, separate recall of Great Value bakery items (cheese danishes and cinnamon rolls) occurred in November 2024, emphasizing the need for consumers to stay informed about distinct product recalls.

Frequently Asked Questions

A recall involving donuts sold at Walmart occurred in early 2025. However, the recall was initiated voluntarily by the manufacturer, FGF Brands, and not by Walmart directly.

The recall initiated by FGF Brands in early 2025 included a variety of baked goods, including donuts sold under multiple brand names, including Walmart private labels and Dunkin'.

The recall was a precautionary measure due to environmental findings of Listeria at an FGF Brands facility in the U.S. No products or food contact surfaces actually tested positive for the bacteria.

Yes, according to FGF Brands, the manufacturer, the recall is complete, and all donuts currently on the market are completely safe to eat.

The recall was completed in early January 2025, so any products you purchased after that time should be safe. Recalled products would have had specific 'Best If Used By' dates and lot codes, which were included in the FDA's original recall announcement.

If you purchased a recalled FGF Brands item before the completion of the recall, the advice was to either throw it away or return it to the point of purchase for a refund.

No, no illnesses were reported in connection with the voluntary FGF Brands donut recall.

Yes, in November 2024, J.M. Smucker Company recalled Great Value cheese danishes and cinnamon rolls (not donuts) due to potential plastic contamination. This was a separate event.