Nine states are currently subject to a product recall after liquid egg products were found to be misbranded and contain undeclared allergens, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
Michael Foods Inc. of Gaylord, Minnesota, has voluntarily recalled its Fair Meadow Foundations Whole Eggs with Citric Acid after it was discovered batches may contain milk, a major allergen.
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The product was recalled in nine U.S. states: Alabama, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, and Utah. They were distributed to restaurants and institutions, with the FSIS saying the product should not be served and either thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
Affected products come in a paperboard carton labeled "Scrambled Egg Blend" which was sold in 32 oz containers. The FSIS also shared an image of the product to help consumers identify the product, which comes in red and white packaging.
Each bears an establishment number of "EST. G1455" inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as a lot code of 4162G, with a use by date of September 16, 2024.
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The issue is due to a labeling mix-up which led to a separate product, Breakfast Blend Scrambled Egg, inadvertently being placed into cartons labeled as the Whole Eggs with Citric Acid.
"The problem was discovered during a routine carton inventory evaluation," the FSIS notice explains. "The establishment notified FSIS when it discovered that a limited amount of Whole Egg with Citric Acid cartons was unaccounted for, and there was a corresponding excess of Breakfast Blend Scrambled Egg carton in inventory."
Newsweek has contacted Michael Foods Inc. for comment via email outside of normal working hours.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises that food-based allergies are a "significant public health concern with allergic reactions varying in severity from gastrointestinal disturbances and skin irritations, to anaphylaxis, anaphylactic shock and death." Milk is one of nine major allergens, with the others being soybeans, fish, crustacean shellfish, wheat, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts and sesame.
Common symptoms of food allergies include hives, itching, and rashes and the skin, gastrointestinal upsets including vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping, swelling of the throat and vocal cords, and respiratory issues such as coughing or wheezing.
However, sometimes allergic reactions can be severe and life threatening, resulting in anaphylaxis. Symptoms can include drop in blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and loss of consciousness. The FDA has cautioned that "symptoms of anaphylaxis may start out as relatively mild, but, if not treated promptly, symptoms can become life-threatening in a short amount of time."
Consumers with questions about the product and recall can contact Michael Foods Inc. at 952-258-4903 or [email protected].
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Aliss Higham is a Newsweek reporter based in Glasgow, Scotland. Her focus is reporting on issues across the U.S., including ... Read more
