Why Whole Foods' Caesar Dressing Is Being Recalled For A Second Time
Gourmet grocery store Whole Foods is known for having an array of some of the finest natural and organic fare you can find. Dieticians recommend stocking up on items like organic almond butter, apple cinnamon overnight oats, and wild-caught sockeye salmon, according to Livestrong. However, when it comes to Whole Foods' Caesar dressing, you might want to exercise some caution.
The FDA reports that VanLaw Food Products Inc. is expanding its original recall of Whole Foods' Caesar Dressing, which was first flagged in April of this year. The dressing is being recalled because it contains soy and wheat allergens, which are not listed on the label. This can be especially problematic for those that are allergic to these ingredients, which can cause swelling of the throat, issues with breathing, and vomiting, per the Mayo Clinic. In some serious cases, ingesting foods that you're allergic to can also cause anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening.
Which item numbers to watch out for
Shoppers should steer clear of the bottles of Whole Foods Market 365 Organic Creamy Caesar Dressing that have a "best if used by date" of September 21, 2022 to June 6, 2023, according to the FDA. These bottles carry an incorrect UPC code of 99482-49027 and were distributed throughout the U.S., but thankfully no illnesses have been reported yet. All impacted products have reportedly been removed from Whole Foods' shelves.
The issue arose because the back label from a different product was mistakenly put on the Caesar dressing, but how does something like this happen? According to the Supply Chain Resource Cooperative at NC State University, when these types of issues arise, 25% to 50% of them are because of human error. This means that the company could have followed all of the procedures correctly, but an individual overlooked a mistake in the process.
The FDA recommends that if you have this mislabeled product, throw it away or return it to Whole Foods for a refund. You can also call 1-844-936-8255 for more information.