Wegmans Nuts Recall Update As FDA Sets Risk Level For 8 States
According to Newsweek, A recall for a Wegmans nut blend issued earlier this summer has now been classified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to concerns over undeclared allergens.
Flagstone Foods, based in Minneapolis, initiated the recall in August for Wegmans’ Food You Feel Good About Pecan Blend after discovering the presence of undeclared almonds. The product’s ingredient list included pecans, cashews, pistachios, canola oil, peanut oil, cottonseed oil, and salt.
The recall, announced on August 23, 2024, affects 16 oz. packages of the nut blend distributed in several states, including Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Affected products bear a use-by date of March 27, 2024, and can be identified by the UPC code 0-77890-31040-3. Customers who purchased the blend can return it to their local Wegmans customer service desk for a full refund.
The FDA has categorized this recall as a Class II risk. A Class II recall indicates a situation in which the use of or exposure to a violative product may lead to temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, with a remote probability of serious adverse health effects. The FDA classifies recalls into three levels based on the severity of potential health risks.
Wegmans has over 110 stores across the affected states, including Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
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Almonds are among the nine “major food allergens” defined by legislation, and cross-contamination can provoke life-threatening allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis, in sensitive individuals.
The major allergens recognized include milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish (like crab, lobster, and shrimp), tree nuts (such as almonds, walnuts, and pecans), peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame.
Anaphylaxis requires immediate medical attention and can result in severe symptoms, including constricted airways, dangerously low blood pressure, and suffocation due to swelling of the throat and larynx.
Other serious allergic reaction symptoms may include hives, flushed skin or rashes, tingling or itchy sensations in the mouth, swelling of the face, tongue, or lips, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, coughing, wheezing, dizziness, and loss of consciousness.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, approximately 6.2 percent of U.S. adults suffer from at least one food allergy. Newsweek has reached out to Flagstone Foods and Wegmans for comments outside of normal business hours.
