Cookie Recall Issued for Five States

More than 11,000 chocolate cookies are being recalled due to the presence of an undeclared allergen, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced.

Sheetz has voluntarily recalled its Shweetz Bakery-To-Go brand Peanut Butter Brownie Cheezecake Mashup Cookie product after it was found to contain peanuts, one of the nine major allergens as declared by the FDA. Consumers with a peanut allergy who eat the product could be at risk from a life-threatening reaction.

The product comes individually packaged in a clear film wrap bearing a lot code of C051624126301 and UPC 759465005029. Affected products were distributed in five states only: Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. In all, 11,070 cookies are subject to the recall.

The recall was first initiated on July 2 this year, however the FDA has only recently listed it on its website as there was no release issued at the time. Newsweek has contacted Sheetz for comment via the contact form on its website outside of normal working hours.

There are nine major allergens in total: peanuts, wheat, soybeans, tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, crustaceans (shellfish), fish and sesame. All major allergens must be declared on food packaging except in limited circumstances.

Food allergies occur when your body has an immune response to certain foods. According to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), around one in 10 U.S. adults are allergic to peanuts, as well as one in 13 children.

Symptoms of a food allergy include itching, rashes, hives, vomiting and/or diarrhea, abdominal cramping, throat and vocal cord swelling, and coughing or wheezing.

In severe cases, food allergies can be fatal if anaphylaxis occurs, which is when the body’s immune system overreacts to the allergen. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, chest pains, throat swelling, a sudden drop in blood pressure, feeling faint, and loss of consciousness.

FARE has reported that teenagers and young adults with food allergies are at the highest risk of fatal food-induced anaphylaxis. If the condition is suspected, emergency services should be contacted without delay by dialing 911.

“If you become ill or have an allergic reaction after consuming a food product, you have the right to report the incident to your local health authority,” Michelle Anstey, manager of regulatory affairs for North America at the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), told Newsweek. “Some consumers can seek recourse if they experience a reaction due to undeclared allergens or misleading food labels.”

The FDA frequently announces recalls for products that have been incorrectly labeled. This month, supermarket chain Hannaford recalled a range of chicken cutlets due to the presence of undeclared milk. Hundreds of loaves of bread were also recalled in July because they contained sesame, which was not listed on the packaging.