CHOKING RISK Rocks America’s Favorite Cookie

A manufacturing defect in popular Chips Ahoy! cookies has triggered an expanded recall affecting American families, as hard cornstarch clumps pose choking risks to children and elderly consumers—raising questions about quality control failures in major food corporations.

Story Snapshot

Mondelēz Global expanded its recall of Chips Ahoy! Baked Bites Brookie cookies on February 5, 2026, citing choking hazards from cornstarch clumps caused by manufacturing errors.
Four product sizes with best-by dates between May 9-18, 2026, are affected, though no illnesses or injuries have been reported.
The recall highlights potential gaps in corporate quality control processes, particularly for products marketed to vulnerable populations like children.
Consumers are urged to discard affected products and contact Mondelēz at 1-855-535-5948 for assistance.

Manufacturing Error Creates Safety Risk

Mondelēz Global initiated a voluntary recall of Chips Ahoy! Baked Bites Brookie cookies on December 24, 2025, after discovering an incorrect mixing process produced small, hard cornstarch clumps within the bite-sized treats. The company expanded the recall on February 5, 2026, adding one date code and two UPCs to the affected product list. This manufacturing flaw specifically impacts the “Brookie” variant—a brownie-cookie hybrid marketed as a convenient portable snack for American families. The FDA published the recall details, emphasizing the particular danger these clumps present to young children and elderly consumers who may struggle with unexpected hard particles.

Four Product Sizes Under Recall

The expanded recall now covers four distinct product sizes with specific UPC codes and best-by dates ranging from May 9 to May 18, 2026. Affected items include a 22.4-ounce eight-count caddie (UPC 44000086688), a 2.8-ounce pouch (UPC 4400008667), a 7-ounce five-count package (UPC 44000085650), and a 1.4-ounce pouch (UPC 4400008566). Consumers should check their pantries for these specific codes and dates. Mondelēz advises families not to consume these products and to contact the company Monday through Friday, 9am to 6pm Eastern Time, at 1-855-535-5948. No illnesses or injuries have been reported, suggesting the voluntary action caught the defect before widespread harm occurred.

Corporate Accountability Questions Emerge

This recall raises legitimate concerns about quality control standards in large food corporations, particularly when products target families with children. Mondelēz Global, which has manufactured the flagship Chips Ahoy! brand since 1963, should maintain rigorous mixing and inspection protocols to prevent such basic manufacturing errors. The fact that cornstarch clumps escaped detection until post-production quality checks suggests potential weaknesses in real-time production monitoring. While the company’s voluntary cooperation with FDA oversight demonstrates responsible crisis management, families deserve assurance that such preventable defects won’t recur. This incident underscores the importance of consumer vigilance and parental oversight when selecting snacks for children, especially with bite-sized products marketed for convenience.

Broader Implications for Food Safety

The Chips Ahoy! recall spotlights ongoing challenges in maintaining consistent quality standards across mass-produced food items, particularly miniaturized snack formats. The FDA’s heightened scrutiny of small-particle hazards in children’s snacks reflects appropriate regulatory attention to products marketed toward vulnerable populations. This incident may prompt industry-wide audits of mixing process controls for similar mini-cookie products from competing manufacturers. For consumers, the recall serves as a reminder that even established brands can experience production failures, reinforcing the need for families to stay informed about FDA announcements and actively check products in their homes against recall lists.