The United States Food and Drug Administration has issued its highest risk warning for a salad product that was recalled in January.
Fresh Point Central Florida Inc. has issued a voluntary recall for a limited quantity of its garden salad due to undeclared peanuts.
Why It Matters
Peanuts are one of the nine most common allergens, according to the FDA. Other options include milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame.
Allergic reactions can cause a wide range of symptoms, each with varying severity.
The symptoms are hives, rashes, swelling, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and coughing or wheezing. Anaphylaxis, or severe allergic reactions, can cause throat swelling, a drop in blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and loss of consciousness.
What To Know
On January 28, FreshPoint Central Florida Inc. issued a voluntary recall of select lots of its Garden Salad 5 oz due to undeclared peanuts caused by mislabeling. The FDA then issued its risk classification on February 25.
The recall affected 18 units of the product distributed throughout Florida and Georgia. The products are identified by their lot number 6620223, UPC code 766375733300, and best-by date of February 5.
The FDA defines a Class I classification as one in which “there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”
A Class II recall refers to an occasion when “use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”
Meanwhile, Class III is defined as “a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.”
Millions of people in the United States have food allergies or food sensitivities, and undeclared allergens are the most common reason for food recalls, according to the FDA.
What People Are Saying
Dr. Stefano Luccioli, a medical officer and allergy specialist at the FDA, said: “The challenge for food allergic consumers and their caregivers navigating food options is not limited to store-bought products. Whether at restaurants or in the homes of relatives or friends, people who are allergic to certain foods must remain vigilant, since exposure to food allergens poses a risk for potentially severe and life-threatening reactions.”
What Happens Next
The status of the recall was noted as completed in the FDA update on February 25.
