CDPH Warns Consumers Not to Eat Brad’s Plant Based Products

What You Need to Know: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is warning consumers to avoid specific varieties of Brad's Plant Based Crunchy Kale and Salad Snack as these products contain elevated levels of thallium. Prolonged exposure to thallium may result in illness or injury. The manufacturer has been notified of the elevated thallium levels but has not yet recalled the products from the marketplace.

SACRAMENTO - The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is warning consumers to avoid Brad's Plant Based Crunchy Kale and Salad Snack products listed below. These products are distributed by Snack Right Super Foods, Inc. and Brad's Raw Chips, LLC. They are sold at major retailers in California and many other states. The following products were laboratory tested and contained elevated thallium levels:

• Brad's Crunchy Kale Original
• Brad's Crunchy Kale Vampire Killer
• Brad's Balsamic Salad Snack
• Brad's Ranch Salad Snack
• Brad's Crunchy Kale Cheeze It Up
• Brad's Crunchy Kale Nacho
• Brad's Crunchy Kale Radical Ranch
• Brad's Veggie Chips Kale

Because these products are distributed from Pennsylvania and labeled with out-of-country ingredients "Product of Mexico", CDPH is working with the United States Food and Drug Administration and the state of Pennsylvania to investigate. Consumers are advised to avoid eating any products containing kale from Brad's brand because of the elevated levels of thallium detected across several tested lots.

What is thallium?

Thallium is a naturally occurring trace metal. Consumers are most likely to be exposed by eating fruits and vegetables grown in soil that contain thallium. Although uncommon, very high levels of thallium in foods may result in hair loss, numbness and pain in the feet and hands, gastrointestinal effects, and heart problems. Consumers who become sick after eating any of the products noted in the photos below should call their health care provider.

CDPH investigation confirmed elevated thallium levels

In response to a Januarry 2026 inquiry from an individual with elevated thallium levels, CDPH staff began investigating a food item consumed by this person, Brad's Plant Based kale products. CDPH staff collected samples of Brad's Plant Based products at retail grocery stores in the Sacramento region. Tests confirmed concerning levels of thallium in multiple varieties of Brad's Plant Based products. CDPH worked with the FDA and the state of Pennsylvania to notify the manufacturer of the elevated levels of thallium in these products. The manufacturer was asked to voluntarily recall the products and, to date, has refused to remove these products from the marketplace.

What you can do

Consumers should not eat the Brad's Plant Based products listed. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase for a refund. Retailers should discard the products listed and not sell them to consumers.

Sample package photos