Allergist talks safety after package mislabeling leads to granola recall

Key takeaways:

• Kick Ash Products recalled one of its granolas after mislabeling led to possible undeclared almonds.
• It is recommended to have a “good working relationship” with an allergist to ease food allergy anxiety.

Kick Ash Products has issued a recall of one of its granola products due to possibly containing undeclared almonds, according to a company announcement shared by the FDA.

The March 14 announcement stated that the company’s Door County Love Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola is being recalled due to possible undeclared almonds which could run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions.

The granola was distributed in Ellison Bay, Wisconsin, and may have reached consumers through the Kick Ash Products store in Ellison Bay or through online orders placed between Feb. 26 and March 11. The packaging is described as a brown plastic bag with a clear viewing window and red label. The lot number involved in the recall is 061241, and the expiration date is Aug. 31.

Kick Ash Products initiated the recall after it was determined that the granola was distributed in packaging that did not indicate the presence of almonds. An investigation concluded that this happened due to a “temporary breakdown in the company’s production process,” according to the announcement.

Healio spoke with Suzanne Barshow, MD, an allergist and immunologist from Latitude Food Allergy Care, about the recall and what consumers with food allergies can do to stay safe.

Suzanne Barshow, MD

“Food recalls due to food allergen contamination or undeclared allergens are the most common reason for food recalls in the United States,” Barshow told Healio.

Although Kick Ash Products has not reported any illnesses due to the recall, the situation sheds a light on the prevalence of almond allergies in the U.S. population, according to Barshow.

“Almond is a type of tree nut,” she said. “Other tree nuts that you might have heard of would be pecan, walnut, hazelnut, cashew, pistachio, macadamia, Brazil nut — those are all considered tree nuts.”

While the exact prevalence of tree nut allergy in the U.S. is not known, Barshow said it is estimated to be between less than 1% to about 3 or 4%“

Barshow further explained that the precautionary labeling often found on food products, such as the Kick Ash granola, can be very confusing to patients with food allergies.

“This labeling is not actually regulated by the FDA,” she said. “These labels may include things like ‘may contain,’ ‘produced in a facility with,’ ‘made on equipment with.’”

This labeling is not regulated, Barshow continued.

“It can cause some confusion and add to the burden that food allergy patients and their families carry, especially in incidents of highly published allergic reactions and poor outcomes due to ingestion of mislabeled ingredients or accidental cross-contamination,” she said.

Mislabeling is a serious concern, according to Food Allergy Research & Education. The organization urges patients to report the issue to the manufacturer as well as the FDA as soon as possible and to always take photos of and keep the product packaging.

When it comes to dealing with food recalls at home, experts recommend to always follow guidelines prescribed by your doctor.

“The best thing that families can do to decrease anxiety around food allergy reactions is to have a good working relationship with their allergist,” Barshow said, also recommending food-allergic patients carry unexpired epinephrine autoinjectors in case of anaphylaxis. “I recommend updating allergy testing periodically to ensure an accurate diagnosis and encourage patients to explore treatment options with their allergist to empower them and help protect them against accidental ingestion.”

Reference:

• Food labeling issues. https://www.foodallergy.org/resources/food-labeling-issues. Accessed April 4, 2024.