Over 700 units of a spice blend have been withdrawn in three states due to potential soy and wheat allergen contamination, raising concerns about allergic reactions, as reported by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Baron Spices, based in St. Louis, Missouri, initiated the recall of 708 units of Blues Hog Sweet and Savory Seasoning on Tuesday. This affected product was supplied through Giant Food Stores in Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware, as well as in the District of Columbia.
While no illnesses have been confirmed so far, individuals with soy and wheat allergies or severe sensitivities are at risk of a “serious or life-threatening” reaction if they consume these products, according to the FDA.
According to the Food Allergy Research and Education organization, symptoms of a wheat allergy reaction can vary from mild, like hives, to severe, such as anaphylaxis. Moreover, allergic responses can be unpredictable, as even minute quantities of wheat can trigger a reaction.
The impacted product is packaged in 6.25 oz plastic bottles labeled as Blues Hog Sweet and Savory Seasoning, with lot numbers 034-363 and 034-364.
A sign for the Food and Drug Administration is visible outside the headquarters in White Oak, Maryland, as of July 20, 2020. The FDA has disclosed a recall of a seasoning in three states due to potential undisclosed soy and wheat allergens. Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images
As per the FDA-shared company announcement, the original product did not contain soy or wheat allergens. However, a supplier to Baron Spices supplied a replacement ingredient that included soy and wheat without proper disclosure.
Newsweek has attempted to contact Baron Spices for comment via an online form.
Consumers who have bought Blues Hog Sweet and Savory Seasoning are urged to either return it to the place of purchase for a full refund or dispose of the product.
For any inquiries, consumers can reach out to Baron Spices at 1-800-622-2190.
In a separate incident, ice cream products were recently recalled due to undeclared allergens, warning customers about the risk of “serious or life-threatening” reactions. The FDA shared an announcement from Belgian Yummies of Fort Myers, Florida, on its website on Tuesday.
The company mentioned that its 4-ounce Ice Cream Sandwiches and 5-liter Gelato containers, along with 4.75-liter pans, were recalled after it was discovered that the packaging did not indicate the presence of wheat, soy, egg, coconut, peanuts, and FD&C Yellow #5.
The issue arose from the utilization of outdated labels during the packaging process, as stated in the release. The company promptly rectified the labels upon identifying the problem and dispatched updated ingredient lists to wholesalers.
The recalled products were exclusively distributed to wholesalers in Florida and were not available for retail sale. To date, the FDA has not received any reports of illness related to the consumption of the ice cream products.