Two bakeries have issued recalls for their holiday cookie products due to the presence of peanuts, which were not declared on the packaging.

Gregory’s Foods, Inc. mistakenly packaged its Frozen Monster Cookie Dough, which includes peanuts, in bags labeled as White Chocolate Macadamia Nut—a flavor that should not contain peanuts.

Consumers can spot the affected product by inspecting the bag’s clear window. The Monster Cookie dough features visible chocolate chips and colorful candy pieces, unlike the White Chocolate Macadamia Nut dough.

The company has clarified that this packaging mix-up was limited to specific units from a single day’s production, and corrective measures have been implemented. As of now, no related illnesses have been reported.

Simultaneously, Atwater’s, based in Baltimore, Maryland, has voluntarily recalled 197 cookie tins because of an undeclared tree nut allergen.

These tins, distributed in the Baltimore area between December 13th and 22nd, 2025, contain cookies with almond, pecan, and walnut. However, this crucial allergen information was omitted from the label.

The omissions in both recalls pose a serious risk of severe or life-threatening allergic reactions to consumers with sensitivities to these nuts. About 3.9 million Americans have a tree nut allergy, which encompasses almonds, pecans, walnuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias and pine nuts. Six million Americans have a peanut allergy.

For those with severe allergies, if exposed, they could experience anaphylaxis, a sudden and potentially fatal reaction where the immune system releases a flood of chemicals, causing airways to narrow, blood pressure to drop and the body to go into shock. An estimated 150 to 200 total food allergy deaths occur in the US annually, and peanuts account for about 75 to 120 of them.

There have been no reported illnesses tied to recalled cookie dough and cookie tins, but consumers are encouraged to return the products for a refund (stock)

Gregory’s Foods mistakenly packaged peanut-containing Monster Cookie Dough in bags labeled for its nut-free White Chocolate Macadamia Nut dough

The recalled bags from Gregory’s, marked with a ‘BEST BY’ date of Dec 6, 2026 on the front, were distributed to retail grocery stores in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nebraska.

Customers who have purchased the affected product are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

The Atwater’s recall was initiated after the company discovered the labeling error, which it attributes to a temporary breakdown in its process. 

No illnesses have been reported in connection with this recall. 

Consumers are urged to return the circular metal tins, identifiable by an ‘Atwater’s cookie tin’ label on the bottom, to their place of purchase for a full refund.

Undeclared allergens are among the most common reasons for food recalls, as a single packaging error or cross-contamination can pose a severe, immediate health threat.

The symptoms of a nut allergy can vary from mild to severe and often appear suddenly. 

These reactions may include skin responses like hives, rash, and itching, as well as tingling or swelling of the lips, mouth and throat. Gastrointestinal issues such as cramps, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea is also common.

Atwater’s has recalled 197 cookie tins sold in the Baltimore area in December 2025. The cookies contain undeclared almonds, pecans and walnuts

The company initiated the recall after discovering the error, blaming a temporary breakdown in its labeling process

An allergic reaction can rapidly escalate to severe respiratory symptoms like shortness of breath, wheezing and cardiovascular symptoms like a rapid pulse and a dangerous drop in blood pressure.

This can potentially lead to dizziness, loss of consciousness and anaphylactic shock, which is a life-threatening emergency.

An epinephrine auto-injector (commonly called an EpiPen) is the first-line, life-saving treatment to stop the progression of a severe allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis triggered by a nut allergy.

However, this is just a stopgap measure. Emergency medical services must still be called immediately after use, as the effects of epinephrine are temporary and a second dose or further hospital care is often required.