The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has upgraded the risk level of recalled snack foods to the highest classification.
A large number of products produced by Indian firm Bliss Tree and imported by Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar Overseas, based in Edison, New Jersey, were recalled in August after the snacks were found to potentially contain milk and sesame allergens without those ingredients having been listed on the packaging.
In mid-September, the products were given a Class II recall classification, but now, two of the products have been upgraded to a Class I classification.
These products include the "Bliss Tree Millet Butter Murukku 200g", which has 13 boxes per case, with the UPC code 8906087451631, and a best-before of August 2024 to May 2025. The other product is the "Bliss Tree Millet Butter Murukku 400g", which contains 8 pouches per case, with UPC code 8906087452850, and a best-before of March 2025 to May 2025.
213 cases of these snacks were involved in the recall and had been sold at stores in California, New Jersey, Georgia, Arizona and Maryland, and online by Amazon.
A Class I risk level is put into place in "a situation 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," according to the FDA, while a Class II is enforced when "a situation in which 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."
According to the FDA statement during the initial recall, both products were mislabeled and may have contained milk and sesame.
"The presence of undeclared milk and/or sesame were discovered during the FDA review of the product labels. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk and sesame run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products, which is not listed as an ingredient on the label," the FDA said.
If you have a milk or sesame allergy and consume products containing them, your immune system may react as though the substance is harmful, leading to an allergic reaction. This can result in mild symptoms such as hives, stomach cramps, nausea, or a runny nose, or in some cases, more severe symptoms like shortness of breath and wheezing, swelling of the lips, face, tongue, or throat, and even anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially fatal reaction that requires immediate treatment with epinephrine (commonly via an EpiPen) and emergency medical care.
Luckily, no illnesses have been reported in connection with these products so far.
The other products recalled at the same time, which remain under a Class II risk level, include:
- Bliss Tree "Ragi Butter Murukku" 200-gram, with a UPC number of 8906087451754 and a "Best By" date of May 2025 or earlier.
- Bliss Tree "Ragi Butter Murukku" 400-gram, with a UPC number of 8906087452829 and a "Best By" date of May 2025 or earlier.
- Bliss Tree "Moringa Butter Murukku" snacks 400-gram, with a UPC number of 8906087452836 and a "Best By" date of May 2025 or earlier.
- Bliss Tree "Curry Leaves Butter Murukku" snacks 400-gram packages, with a UPC number of 8906087452867 and a "Best By" date of May 2025 or earlier.
- Bliss Tree "Millet Butter Karasev" snacks in 200-gram, with a UPC number of 8906087451686 and a "Best By" date of May 2025 or earlier.
- Bliss Tree "Millet Butter Ribbon Pakoda" snacks 200-gram, with a UPC of 8906087451624 and a "Best By" date of May 2025 or earlier.
- Bliss Tree "Millet Butter Ribbon Pakoda" snacks 400-gram, with a UPC of 8906087452843 and a "Best By" date of May 2025 or earlier.
These products may have contained undeclared milk.
"The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the milk/sesame-containing products was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of milk/sesame. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the company's packaging processes," the FDA said. "Production and distribution of the product has been suspended until FDA and the company are certain that the problem has been corrected."
The FDA urged consumers who purchased these products to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.
A spokesperson for Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar Overseas LLC previously told Newsweek in an email: "The recall was issued due to incorrect labeling. The ingredients list 'butter,' but it was not explicitly declared that the products contain a common allergen, 'milk.' We are working closely with the FDA and the manufacturer to fix the labeling issue as soon as possible. We are committed to providing our customers with safe and accurately labeled products."
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