Whole Foods Packaged Organic Salad Kit Recalled For Allergen Risks
On July 11, 2023, Braga Fresh voluntarily issued a recall of their 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Asian Inspired Chopped Salad Kit due to undeclared allergens. The product, sold through Whole Foods Market stores, failed to disclose that the included condiment included milk and eggs.
The recall only applies to a single production run of the salad mix sold between June 28, 2023, and July 10, 2023. The bags feature the product UPC Code 9948246932 and lot code BFFS179A2. The recall only applies to this specific run — which has already been pulled from shelves — and no others are currently mislabeled. Fortunately, no illnesses or allergic reactions have yet been reported related to the incident.
This isn't the first time Whole Foods has run afoul of the FDA for mislabeling foods. In December 2020, the FDA issued a warning letter after the grocery chain repeatedly recalled products due to undeclared allergens. From October 2019 to November 2020 alone, Whole Foods recalled 32 mislabeled food products — which, the letter stated, was part of a larger trend that dated back years. The warning letter was part of an ongoing FDA initiative to improve industry-wide allergen labeling compliance, the most common reason for food recalls. Similar letters were sent to seven other retailers.
What to do if you purchased a recalled product
According to the FDA, customers who purchased the affected salad kits should discard them immediately. Yes, that applies to people who eat eggs and dairy, too, as it's best to err on the side of caution when it comes to mislabeled food. Customers can get a full refund by bringing a valid receipt to Whole Foods Market.
If you or someone you know has a milk or egg allergy and you believe might've consumed one of these affected bags, keep an eye out for symptoms. Symptoms for both allergies include hives, coughing, and stomach cramps. Anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction that causes a swollen throat, constricting the airways, is one of the more severe symptoms of these allergies, and emergency treatment should immediately be sought if this occurs. The Mayo Clinic includes a full list of symptoms for egg and milk allergies on its site.
For additional information about the recall, call 1-844-936-8255 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday, or 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on weekends.