Hot Dog Recall Lawsuit Alleges Tyson and Hillshire Sold Products Contaminated With Wood

Case Overview: The lawsuit claims Tyson and Hillshire sold hot dogs and sausage products later recalled for containing wood fragments.

Consumers Affected: Buyers of recalled State Fair and Jimmy Dean products manufactured between March and September 2025.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division

Two of America’s most popular snack brands, State Fair and Jimmy Dean, are under fire from shoppers who have accused their parent companies, Hillshire Brands and Tyson Foods, of selling hot dogs contaminated with wood fragments. 

Consumers have filed a new lawsuit following a massive federal recall that pulled roughly 58 million pounds of corn dogs and sausage-on-a-stick products from shelves nationwide.

Plaintiff Says Recalled Sausages Were Unsafe and Worthless

Illinois resident Eric Wilim, who filed the class action, says he purchased one of the recalled Hillshire pancake sausages on a stick from a local grocery store over the summer. Although he didn’t find wood pieces in his portion, regulators later deemed the product “adulterated” and unsafe to eat. 

Wilim argues he and other consumers were forced to pay for food that offered no value, unsafe products that now must be discarded.

The lawsuit claims customers suffered economic losses because the items they bought were “worthless,” no longer fit for human consumption, and cannot realistically be refunded. It alleges that Hillshire and Tyson failed to properly monitor their production process, allowing wooden sticks to enter the batter and spread through millions of packages.

Federal Recall Affected Schools, Retailers, and Military Facilities

The recall, announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on September 27, 2025, covered products manufactured between March and late September. 

Regulators said the contamination occurred when wooden sticks entered the production line before battering, embedding small fragments into the hot dogs.

The recalled items, sold under the State Fair and Jimmy Dean brands, were distributed nationwide through grocery stores, online retailers, schools, and even Department of Defense facilities. 

FSIS warned consumers to discard or return the affected products and expressed concern that many may still be in homes or freezers across the country.

Wilim’s lawsuit also criticizes the recall process itself, claiming it was ineffective and designed to prevent most consumers from getting refunds. Because many people already ate or discarded the items, and few keep receipts for everyday groceries, the complaint argues that the vast majority of customers are left without recourse.

Food Safety Litigation Expands Across Major Brands

The case adds to a growing wave of food safety lawsuits targeting major brands. 

Kraft Heinz is facing legal action over allegedly listeria-contaminated Oscar Mayer turkey bacon, while other lawsuits have named Grimmway Farms over E. coli-tainted carrots and Milo’s Poultry Farms for salmonella-laced eggs. 

Even Boar’s Head settled claims linked to one of the largest listeria outbreaks in U.S. history.

Wilim is seeking to represent all U.S. consumers who bought recalled State Fair or Jimmy Dean products tied to the September 27 recall. He’s suing for breach of warranty and unjust enrichment and wants damages, restitution, and stronger consumer protections to ensure safer food handling.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Wilim v. The Hillshire Brands Company and Tyson Foods, Inc. 
• Case Number: 1:25-cv-12281
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division 

Plaintiffs' Attorney:

• Gary M. Klinger (Milberg Coleman Bryson  Phillips Grossman, PLLC) 
• Paul J. Doolittle (Poulin | Willey | Anastopoulo, LLC)

Have you purchased any recalled State Fair or Jimmy Dean products? Tell us in the comments below.