Lean Cuisine and Stouffer’s Frozen Meals Recalled for ‘Wood-Like Material’ That May Cause Choking

Nestlé USA is recalling certain batches of its Lean Cuisine and Stouffer’s frozen meals for possible contamination with “wood-like material,” the company said in a news release on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website.

“We are actively investigating the source of the wood-like material,” Nestlé said. “We are confident that this is an isolated issue, and we have taken action to address it.

The company said it launched the recall after various consumers reported the problem, including “one potential choking incident.”

The voluntary recall applies to limited batches of meals with best-before dates between September 2025 and April 2026.

The affected products include the following: Lean Cuisine Butternut Squash Ravioli, Lean Cuisine Spinach Artichoke Ravioli, Lean Cuisine Lemon Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry, and Stouffer’s Party Size Chicken Lasagna.

The products were distributed to major retailers in the United States between September 2024 and March 2025.

Check Your Freezer

Consumers are advised to check batch codes and best-before dates to identify the affected products. The 10-digit batch code is printed on the side of product packages.

Here’s an overview of the recalled products and their batch numbers and best-before dates.

Lean Cuisine Butternut Squash Ravioli

Lean Cuisine Spinach Artichoke Ravioli

Lean Cuisine Lemon Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry

Stouffer’s Party Size Chicken Lasagna (96oz)

The recall does not involve any other Lean Cuisine or Stouffer’s frozen meal products than the ones listed above, Nestlé said.

Consumers who have purchased the affected products should not prepare or consume them. When returned to the retailer where it was purchased, consumers will receive a free replacement or a full refund.

“The quality, safety and integrity of our products remain our number one priority,” Nestlé said. “We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this action represents to both our consumers and retail customers.”

Nestlé officials said they are working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Agriculture Department to investigate the source of the wood-like material, which remains as yet unknown.

Consumers who desire further support may Nestlé USA at (800) 681-1676 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Nestlé is a global food and beverage company, best known for its instant coffee, instant chocolate drinks, and popular snacks like KitKat and Smarties. The company also owns the pet care brand Purina and the iconic baby food brand Gerber.

Headquartered in Switzerland, Nestlé operates in over 180 countries.