Publix Food Recall Update as ‘Foreign Material’ Found in Multiple Products
Publix Super Markets, one of the largest grocery chains in the Southeastern United States, announced two recalls of Market Ground Beef products in Georgia in less than a week last month following concerns over the potential presence of foreign material.
The most recent recall affected beef sold on June 26 at the Limestone Marketplace Publix in Gainesville, Georgia, while an earlier recall impacted ground beef sold on June 25 at the Abernathy Square Publix in Sandy Springs, a suburb of Atlanta.
Newsweek has emailed a Publix spokesperson for comment.
FILE – Ground beef from a supermarket in a bowl.
Daniel Karmann/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
Why It Matters
Foreign material contamination can potentially cause injury, and repeated incidents raise questions about the effectiveness of current safety protocols.
Food recalls due to contamination or mislabeling can undermine consumer trust and place vulnerable individuals (such as children, the elderly, or those with allergies) at greater risk.
Publix has also been the centre of recalls for lead in baby food and other items this year.
Food safety remains a paramount concern for American households, and the frequency of such issues may influence shopping habits and regulatory responses nationwide.
Full List of Publix Food Product Recalls in 2025
Ground Beef and Pork Products
Publix voluntarily recalled a number of ground beef and pork products on January 13 due to the potential of foreign material in those products.
The affected products include the chain’s Market Ground Beef, Lean Ground Beef (seven percent fat), Ground Sirloin (10 percent fat) and Pork Market Ground, all of which had expiry dates on either January 14 or January 15.
The only affected store was Publix on Bayshore in Tampa, Florida.
Genova Canned Tuna Products
A post on February 10 stated that select canned tuna brands were pulled from shelves due to concerns about contamination that could cause potentially deadly food poisoning.
Consumers were warned not to use the product, even if it did not look or smell spoiled.
According to a release published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the products affected by the recall were sold at stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Live Shell-on Oysters
A February 6 announcement by the supermarket chain noted that a recall of oysters harvested in Louisiana’s oyster harvesting Area 3 since January 2010 had been ordered by the state’s department of health, due to reports of norovirus-like illnesses.
The recall included shucked, frozen, breaded, post-harvest processed and oysters for the half-shell market.
According to the recall notice, 15 people became ill after eating oysters harvested from the area in question at several restaurants in New Orleans. Two people were hospitalized, but later discharged.
The entrance to a Publix Super Market on July 30, 2024 in Miami, Florida. The supermarket chain was founded in 1930 and now has 1,375 store locations across the Southeast United States.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
GreenWise Baby Food
On May 9, Publix Super Markets announced a voluntary recall of its GreenWise Pear, Kiwi, Spinach & Pea Baby Food due to elevated lead levels.
The 4-ounce pouches, produced by Bowman Andros LLC, were sold in Publix stores across eight states. Routine FDA sampling revealed the contamination risk.
No illnesses were reported as of May 22, and affected products have been removed from shelves. Customers can return the product for a full refund. The recall covers pouches with GTIN 41415-00901 and a “Best If Used By” date of 11/01/2025.
Market Ground Beef
Publix voluntarily recalled select Market Ground Beef products from two Georgia stores due to “the potential of foreign material.”
The affected beef was sold at the Abernathy Square Shopping Center in Sandy Springs on June 25 (sell-by date: June 26) and the Limestone Marketplace in Gainesville on June 26 (sell-by date: June 27). No other locations are impacted.
The company has removed the potentially contaminated products from shelves and no further details about the foreign material were disclosed.
What People Are Saying
Maria Brous, director of communications at Publix, said in the ground beef recall notices: “As part of our commitment to food safety, potentially impacted product has been removed from the store shelves.”
What Happens Next
Publix advised customers to throw away or return the ground beef products to the store for a refund. Any questions can be directed to Publix at 800-242-1227.
