Nearly 5,000 pounds of liquid egg products have been recalled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
The recall of liquid egg products manufactured by Michael Foods Inc. of Gaylord, Minnesota, is due to misbranding and the failure to declare the presence of a major allergen.
Reasons For The Recall
The recall stems from a labeling mix-up which meant that the product Breakfast Blend Scrambled Egg was accidentally put into cartons labeled as Whole Eggs with Citric Acid.
The Breakfast Blend Scrambled Egg contains milk — a major allergen — which was not declared on labeling for Whole Eggs with Citric Acid.
How The Problem Was Discovered
The problem that led to this recall was found when Michael Foods discovered that some cartons of Whole Eggs with Citric Acid were unaccounted for.
Meanwhile, they found that there was the same number of extra cartons for Breakfast Blend Scrambled Egg.
Identifying Recalled Products
The recall applies to approximately 4,620 pounds of liquid egg products. They can be identified by the lot code 4162G and their use-by date is September 16th, 2024.
The production date for the recalled products is June 11th, 2024. They were packaged in 32-oz. paperboard cartons with the words “Fair Meadow Foundations Whole Eggs with Citric Acid” written on the side.
Which States Are Impacted?
The recalled products were shipped to restaurants in Idaho, Louisiana, Alabama, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nebraska, Utah, South Carolina and Ohio.
According to Newsweek reporting, “The agency said it was concerned that some of these products might be in institutional and restaurant refrigerators, and warned that these products should be thrown away or returned to their place of purchase and not be served to consumers.”
Potential Adverse Health Impact
Milk is classified as one of nine major allergens. These allergens must be listed on food and drink labels per Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines.
For those with a milk allergy, exposure to the allergen can lead to mild side effects live vomiting, diarrhea and hives, as well as more severe symptoms, like anaphylaxis – which can be life-threatening.
What Are The 9 Major Allergens?
According to the FDA, a “major food allergen” is an ingredient that is one of the following six foods or from one of the following three food groups or is an ingredient that contains protein derived from one of the following:
Milk, egg, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, and sesame.
Who To Contact
According to the USDA, “Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Kristina Larsen, Director Customer Service, Michael Foods Inc. at 952-258-4903 or [email protected].”
They added, “Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to [email protected]. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.”
Who Are Michael Foods?
Michael Foods manufactures and distributes food products, including potato and egg products, across the United States.
The website describes itself as “the nation’s largest processor of value-added eggs.” Newsweek says this means that the eggs “are processed in a way that adds convenience to the consumer, such as by being pre-cooked or packed for large-scale use.”
A Busy Year For Recalls
2024 has been a busy year for food and drink recalls, with the US recording a 115% increase in such recalls since 2018.
Among the products recalled in recent weeks are Charles Boggini Company sodas, Hy-Vee cream cheese spreads and cookies and cream mixes, and lead-contaminated children’s applesauce pouches.
