According to News Week, Korean seasoned seaweed is being recalled due to a packaging error that resulted in sesame not being declared on the label, posing a risk of allergic reactions in some consumers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Friday.
Details of the Recall
The seaweed, produced by Wismettac Asian Foods Inc., based in Santa Fe, California, was sold under the brand name Shirakiku to stores and restaurants across seven U.S. states. Sesame is one of the top 10 most common allergens and can trigger severe or potentially fatal allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Symptoms can include vomiting, itchy hives, shortness of breath, dizziness, and tingling in the mouth. In severe cases, anaphylaxis may occur, leading to symptoms such as swelling of the throat or face, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, and even death. Immediate medical attention, including the use of an EpiPen for adrenaline injection, is crucial in these situations.
Nature of the Problem
The Korean seasoned seaweed contains sesame, which was not declared on the outer packaging due to a mistake in using incorrect packaging material. The product is sold in 3.52oz packages in an illustrated plastic bag, containing five inner packets. While each inner packet is correctly labeled, the outer bag contains incorrect information regarding the allergen. The packets are marked with two product codes: the correct one, 074410516031, is located on the back right side of the outer package, while the incorrect one is 074410495534.
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The recalled seaweed was distributed to California, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Washington, New York, and Nevada until Tuesday, October 8. Wismettac announced the recall on Thursday, October 10, with the FDA following suit the next day.
Consumer Advisory
Consumers who have purchased the affected seaweed products are urged to return them to their place of purchase for a full refund. Newsweek has reached out to Wismettac for further comments via email.
In addition to the seaweed recall, the FDA announced several other recalls on Friday, October 11, including Enoki King mushrooms, Los Andes Foods sweet corn pancakes, and Bistro 28’s Don Pacho meal kits. The sweet corn pancakes were recalled due to undeclared wheat following a similar labeling error, while the mushrooms and meal kits were potentially contaminated with listeria bacteria, which can cause serious listeriosis infections. The meal kits were connected to a larger recall of nearly 10 million pounds of meat from BrucePac due to listeria contamination.
