Salad Recall Update As FDA Sets Highest Risk Warning

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued its highest risk warning for a salad product recalled in January.

FreshPoint Central Florida Inc. issued a voluntary recall for a limited amount of its garden salad due to undeclared peanuts.

Newsweek has contacted FreshPoint Central Florida Inc. for comment.

Why It Matters

Peanuts are one of the nine major allergens, according to the FDA. The others include milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame.

Allergic reactions can result in a variety of symptoms with varying degrees of severity.

The symptoms include hives, rashes, swelling, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping and coughing or wheezing. In severe cases, known as anaphylaxis, an individual can experience swelling of the throat, a drop in blood pressure, difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness.

What To Know

FreshPoint Central Florida Inc. issued its voluntary recall on January 28 for select lots of its Garden Salad 5 oz due to undeclared peanuts resulting from mislabeling. The FDA subsequently issued its risk classification on February 25.

The recall impacted 18 units of the product distributed in Florida and Georgia. The products can be identified by the lot number 6620223, UPC code 766375733300, and best-by date of February 5.

According to the FDA, a Class I classification refers to 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.”

A Class II recall represents a situation where “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, the lowest classification is Class III, which 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.

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