A recall of crackers due to possible undeclared sesame has been issued the second-highest risk warning by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Distinctive Foods LLC, based in Illinois, issued a voluntary recall on July 25 for a select lot of Frederik’s by Meijer Artisan Baked Sea Salt flatbread crackers. The FDA later issued a Class II risk classification for the recall on August 12.
Newsweek contacted Distinctive Foods LLC for comment via the company’s online contact form outside of regular working hours.
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Why It Matters
A Class II risk classification (one of three) refers to a situation in which the “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,” according to the FDA.
Sesame is one of the nine major food allergens as set out in the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act. The others are milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans.
New regulations were introduced from January 1, 2023, stipulating that sesame had to be labelled as an allergen on packaged foods and dietary supplements.
Allergic reactions vary in severity from mild symptoms, such as hives and lip swelling, to life-threatening complications, such as anaphylaxis, that may include fatal respiratory problems.
Almost six percent of U.S. adults and children have a food allergy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What To Know
The product impacted by the recall is the following:
- Frederik’s by Meijer artisan baked sea salt flatbread crackers – UPC code: 7 13733 00048 2 – Lot number: 5154-1 – best-by date: November 30, 2025.
The FDA said 1,790 packets were affected by the recall, and that they were distributed to Ohio, Wisconsin and Michigan.
There have been no reports that anyone has been taken ill following the consumption of the affected product.
What People Are Saying
The FDA says on its website: “To protect those with food allergies and other food hypersensitivities, the FDA enforces regulations requiring companies to list ingredients on packaged foods and beverages. For certain foods or substances that cause allergies or other hypersensitivity reactions, there are more specific labeling requirements.”
It adds: “When problems are found, the FDA works with firms to recall products and provide public notification to immediately alert consumers.”
Dr. Sebastian Lighvani, the director of New York Allergy & Asthma PLLC, previously told Newsweek: “Every three minutes in the United States, someone ends up in an emergency room because of an allergic reaction after accidental ingestion of food. So even when we try hard, these reactions are happening. And if you look at the incidence of anaphylaxis, it has skyrocketed in the last five, 10, 20 years. And in the U.S., there’s like a 300 to 400 percent increase in the rates of anaphylaxis to foods.”
What Happens Next
The recall is listed as ongoing, according to the FDA.
Consumers who have an allergy or sensitivity to sesame should not consume this product.