A significant quantity of sandwiches are being recalled in the United States due to cross-contamination concerns.
Capitol Distributing is initiating the recall of 3,934 sandwiches that may have traces of sesame. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration () has cautioned that individuals with a sesame allergy who ingest the product could experience a severe or life-threatening allergic reaction.
Sesame is recognized as one of the nine primary food allergens in the U.S. under the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act. Symptoms of sesame allergy encompass hives, coughing, wheezing, mouth itching and tingling, throat swelling, breathing difficulties, and loss of consciousness.
Newsweek reached out to Capitol Distributing for a statement via email after regular business hours.
Six sandwich varieties have been voluntarily recalled, including:
- CK Turkey and Cheese Sandwich with lot codes 24039, 24040, 24043, 24044
- Jacksons Turkey and Cheese with lot codes 24039, 24040, 24043, 24044
- CK Egg Salad Sandwich with lot codes 24039, 24040, 24043, 24044
- Jacksons Egg Salad with lot codes 24039, 24040, 24043, 24044
- CK Chicken Salad Sandwich with lot codes 24039, 24040, 24043, 24044
- Jacksons Chicken Salad with lot codes 24039, 24040, 24043, 24044
A photograph of a turkey sandwich is provided. The sandwiches could potentially contain undisclosed traces of sesame due to a cross-contamination event. A photograph of a turkey sandwich is provided. The sandwiches could potentially contain undisclosed traces of sesame due to a cross-contamination event. GETTY
It is suspected that sesame may have contaminated some sandwiches during the preparation process, where “chicken salad on a croissant and egg salad sandwiches were made on the same surface as the turkey sandwiches,” according to the FDA. The affected products were distributed to convenience stores across Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
The advisory states: “A new bread source for sandwiches introduced sesame, which was mistakenly omitted from the updated sandwich labels. The labels have been revised, and any future risk of cross-contact has been eliminated.”
The recalled sandwiches were on shelves starting from February 8, 2024. The FDA estimates the products have a shelf life of approximately nine days.
Additionally, the FDA has identified several stores that stocked the impacted products, including:
- Buds Marketplace (Eagle, Idaho)
- Wild Willy’s (Emmett, Idaho)
- Valley Wide Stores (Idaho)
- Ranch Market (Boise, Idaho)
- EZ Mart (New Plymouth, Idaho)
- Bud’s Chevron (Nampa, Idaho)
- Vista Mart (Sparks, Nevada)
- Silver State Food Mart (Reno, Nevada)
- Santa Rosa Station (Winnemucca, Nevada)
- Rye Patch Petroleum (Lovelock, Nevada)
- McCarran Mart (Sparks, Nevada)
- Boomtown Chevron (Verdi, Nevada)
- Hangar 32 (Provo, Utah)
- Extra Mart (Park City, Utah)
- Extra Mile (Salt Lake City and Draper, Utah)
- Jacksons Food Stores (Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington)
To date, no incidents involving the sandwiches have been reported by customers, as per the FDA. Individuals who have purchased the product and are worried about potential sesame traces are advised to either discard it or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.