Food recalls
Food recalls in May 2021
The FDA listed 48 food recalls in its May 2021 Enforcement Reports, 8 more than in April 2021 (40) and 24 more than in May 2020 (24). 12 were Class I, the most serious kind. The most common reason was allergen not on the label (22).
Food recalls
48
Reports through May 26, 2021
Class I, the most serious
12
Could cause serious harm or death
April 2021
40
24 in May 2020
Every food recall in May 2021
Newest first, by the date of the weekly FDA Enforcement Report that first listed it. FDA's own words are in quotes.
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Class I (most serious)
Allergen not on the label. “Undeclared Milk Allergen”
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Class I (most serious)
Forest Mushroom Food Inc. (Commerce, CA): Guan's Enoki Mushroom
Listeria. “State of Massachusetts sampled Enoki Mushrooms and found them to be positive for Listeria monocytogenes.”
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Class I (most serious)
Allergen not on the label. “During an inspection by the FDA the firm was notified by FDA that the product contains undeclared milk, wheat & soy.”
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Class I (most serious)
Allergen not on the label. “Potential to contain undeclared peanuts”
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Class II
Lead or other chemicals. “Product contains elevated levels of lead and arsenic.”
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Class II
Agri Exim INC. (New York, NY): Waah Organic Rajma Masala
Allergen not on the label. “Masala contains undeclared milk in the ghee ingredient”
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Class II
Allergen not on the label. “Dietary supplement contains undeclared fish collagen”
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Class II
CONAGRA BRANDS (Chicago, IL): Udi Gluten Free Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins (4 products)
Metal, plastic, glass or other objects. “potential presence of an extraneous material (plastic)”
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Class II
Desserts On Us, Inc. (Arcata, CA): Desserts On Us Original Traditional Baklava (2 products)
Allergen not on the label. “Inspection by California Department of Public Health found that labeling did not properly declare milk.”
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Class II
Faribault Foods (Tucson, AZ): O Organics Organic Black Beans (3 products)
Other germs or toxins (botulism, hepatitis A, mold...). “Compromised hermetic seal on cans.”
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Class II
Other ingredient not on the label (sulfites, dyes...). “Product contains undeclared Dijon mustard and red wine vinegar, which resulted in naturally occurring sulfites being undeclared on the label.”
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Class II
KEWPIE TRADING EUROPE B.V. (Amsterdam, Netherlands): Kewpie Deep Roasted Sesame Dressing
Lead or other chemicals. “Some lots of Kewpie Roasted Sesame Dressing are being recalled because they deviated from European pesticide regulations. The product exceeded the ethylene oxide regulation of 0 05mg/kg.”
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Class II
Newly Weds Foods Inc (Chicago, IL): Newly Weds B70731 bread crumbs X1 (22 products)
Metal, plastic, glass or other objects. “Foreign material”
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Class II
Pepsico Inc (Purchase, NY): Evolve Vanilla Bean Plant-Based Protein Shake (2 products)
Allergen not on the label. “undeclared soy”
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Class II
PUBLIC GOODS (New York, NY): PUBLIC GOODS brand HAIR, SKIN, & NAILS Dietary Supplement
Allergen not on the label. “Product may contain undeclared soy.”
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Class II
Russ Davis Wholesale Inc (Eagan, MN): Veggie Pizza sold under the following brands
Allergen not on the label. “Veggie Pizza contain undeclared soy lecithin.”
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Class II
“The firm received complaints of peanuts in their cases of pecans.”
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Class II
Twenty-First Century Healthcare, Inc (Tempe, AZ): 21st Century Vitamin D3 125 mcg (5000 IU) tablet
Labeling, packaging or manufacturing problems. “A small quantity of bottles of Vitamin D3 125 mcg ((5000 IU) 100 ct. were mislabeled as Vitamin D3 25 mcg (1000 IU). Secondary labeling on the bottles (back label) is correctly labeled as Vitamin D3 125 mcg (5000 IU).”
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Class II
Allergen not on the label. “Undeclared Milk on labeling”
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Class III (least serious)
Labeling, packaging or manufacturing problems. “CGMP Deviations: Presence of damaged tablets”
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Class III (least serious)
NOW Health Group Inc. (Bloomingdale, IL): NOW 4x6 Acidophilus
Other ingredient not on the label (sulfites, dyes...). “Foreign capsules included in bottle. Undeclared ingredients.”
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Class I (most serious)
“The firm was notified by an ingredient supplier of Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) that the ingredient potentially contained traces of milk. This affected two of the firm's products that are marketed and sold as vegan and dairy-free.”
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Class I (most serious)
Allergen not on the label. “Undeclared Egg Allergen”
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Class I (most serious)
Allergen not on the label. “The Hershey Company, 19 East Chocolate Avenue, Hershey PA 17033 is voluntarily recalling of a specific lot of Hershey s Chocolate Shell Topping in a 7.25-oz. (205g) bottle UPC (346000) after learning that 1,700 bottles were incorrectly filled with Heath Shell Topping which is made with almonds....”
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Class II
Blount Fine Foods Corporation (Fall River, MA): Panera Lobster Bisque
Allergen not on the label. “Lobster bisque contains undeclared noodle with egg ingredient.”
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Class II
South Coast Baking Co. (Irvine, CA): SCB 12" Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake In CPET Tray with lid
Labeling, packaging or manufacturing problems. “Notified by packaging supplier of recall due to potential loose particles of CPET in product packaging that could become imbedded in the finished baked goods.”
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Class III (least serious)
Driscoll's Inc. (Watsonville, CA): Driscoll's Fresh Blackberries
Lead or other chemicals. “Firm determined that pesticide Bifenazate MRL is out of compliance for the US market. US MRL = 5ppm. Product tested = 5.8ppm.”
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Class III (least serious)
Labeling, packaging or manufacturing problems. “Incorrect active ingredient is listed on product label”
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Class III (least serious)
Lopez Gonzalez Santana Corporation (Rio Piedras, PR): BTREX PLUS, Dietary Supplement 100 Caplets
Labeling, packaging or manufacturing problems. “cGMP Deviation: Presence of damaged tablets”
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Class I (most serious)
Creative Foods Inc (Prineville, OR): Bueno Coffee Substitute Pecan Praline, Gluten-Free (2 products)
Allergen not on the label. “Bueno Coffee Substitute Pecan Praline Gluten-Free product contains undeclared peanut and barley (which contains gluten).”
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Class I (most serious)
Forest Mushroom Food Inc. (Commerce, CA): Guan's Enoki Mushroom - Champigons d'enoki
Listeria. “Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development sampled Enoki mushrooms and found some samples to be positive for Listeria monocytogenes.”
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Class I (most serious)
Jule's Foods (Carlsbad, CA): Jule's Brie Ranch Dressing with Cashews (5 products)
Salmonella. “Products have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The cashew cheese is suspect in a current outbreak.”
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Class I (most serious)
Listeria. “Potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes”
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Class II
HOSTESS BRANDS LLC (Lenexa, KS): Hostesss SnoBalls packaged as Hostess Chocolate CupCakes
Allergen not on the label. “SnoBalls snack cakes were packaged with a label for Chocolate CupCakes causing the product to fail to declare the major food allergen coconut.”
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Class II
JKH Enterprises (Cascade Locks, OR): Granny's Fudge Gorgeous Peanut Brittle
Allergen not on the label. “Ingredients statement declares Unsalted Cream but does not list milk. Label has allergen advisory statement "Mfg on same equipment that processes wheat, egg, peanut & tree nut. May contain traces of soy, milk, peanuts & tree nuts".”
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Class II
Natrol, LLC (Chatsworth, CA): Natrol Melatonin 3 mg, Tab 60 White bottle with purple flip-top cap
Labeling, packaging or manufacturing problems. “One lot of ALA 300 mg Cap-50 were labeled at Melatonin 3 mg Tab-60.”
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Class II
Allergen not on the label. “Undeclared Wheat and Soy”
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Class III (least serious)
Other germs or toxins (botulism, hepatitis A, mold...). “Failure to manufacture product in accordance with 21CFR part 114: Acidified Foods”
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Class I (most serious)
GOLDEN MEDAL MUSHROOM INC (Los Angeles, CA): Enoki Mushroom Product of Korea Net Wt
Listeria. “Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development sampled product and results found Listeria monocytogenes.”
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Class II
Allergen not on the label. “Ice cream contains undeclared soy lecithin and coconut oil”
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Class II
Salmonella. “Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella”
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Class II
Champlain Chocolate Company (Burlington, VT): Organic Mr (2 products)
Allergen not on the label. “Product potentially contains undeclared almonds.”
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Class II
Metal, plastic, glass or other objects. “Potential presence of a metallic mesh material in products.”
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Class II
Michael Zakany LLC (Zanesville, OH): Jose Madrid Salsa - Strawberry Mild Salsa 13oz glass jars
Allergen not on the label. “Undeclared anchovy allergen”
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Class II
Richelieu Foods, Inc. (Grundy Center, IA): Tuscan Garden Ranch Dressing
Labeling, packaging or manufacturing problems. “An incorrect label was applied to the back of ranch dressing bottles. The incorrect label contained the ingredient information for zesty Italian dressing which fails to disclose the presence of milk and egg present in the product.”
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Class II
Allergen not on the label. “Undeclared milk (lactose) allergen on labeling”
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Class II
Torn & Glasser, Inc. (Pomona, CA): Dark Chocolate Expresso Beans
Allergen not on the label. “Dark Chocolate walnuts were packed in a container labeled at Dark Chocolate Espresso Beans and does not declare walnuts as an allergen Bottom label with nutritional information is correct for the Dark Chocolate Walnuts.”
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Class II
Twin City Foods, Inc. (Stanwood, WA): Signature Select Golden Corn Sweet, frozen
Labeling, packaging or manufacturing problems. “Possible egg and wheat allergen cross-contact contamination during packaging.”
Why food was recalled in May 2021
Chartly groups FDA's written reasons by their key words; each recall counts once, under its first matching reason.
| Reason | Recalls |
|---|---|
| Allergen not on the label | 22 |
| Labeling, packaging or manufacturing problems | 8 |
| Listeria | 4 |
| Lead or other chemicals | 3 |
| Metal, plastic, glass or other objects | 3 |
| Other germs or toxins (botulism, hepatitis A, mold...) | 2 |
| Other ingredient not on the label (sulfites, dyes...) | 2 |
| Salmonella | 2 |
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Source and notes
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Enforcement Reports (openFDA food recall data) (Public domain (U.S. government work); source U.S. Food and Drug Administration, openFDA), data as of May 26, 2021.
Each week the FDA lists the recalls it has classified in its Enforcement Report, often weeks after the company announced the recall, so a month with five weekly reports tends to count more. Each recall counts once, however many products it covers, in the month FDA first listed it. Class I means the food could cause serious harm or death, Class II temporary or minor harm, and Class III is unlikely to harm anyone. Meat, poultry and most egg products are recalled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, not the FDA, and aren't included. For what to do with a recalled product, see the FDA's recalls page.