THE FDA has issued a health risk warning over a nationwide recall of butter.
Shoppers were warned on July 14 that almost 65,000 pounds of NH European Style Butter Blend was pulled from shelves.
Bunge North American Inc., located in Missouri, has issued a warning due to the potential presence of a life-threatening ingredient that might not have been declared on the packaging.
The company announced the voluntary recall over concerns about milk allergies.
Since then, the FDA has given the recall a Class II classification which means the presence of undeclared milk poses a high health risk.
According to the FDA, this implies that “use of or exposure to a violative product may lead to temporary or medically reversible adverse health effects, with the likelihood of serious consequences being remote.”
With milk being in the top nine major allergens alongside other foods like nuts, eggs, and fish, the packaging failure is a huge health problem.
For many, an allergic reaction to milk will be mild such as hives, vomiting, and digestive issues.
But for others with a more serious allergy, it can be life-threatening.
For individuals with severe allergies, contact with milk or milk-containing products could trigger anaphylaxis, described by the Mayo Clinic as “a severe, life-threatening reaction.”
The butter recall is still ongoing with shoppers reminded to check for affected items.
Cases of the recalled butter were shipped across the country to 12 different distribution centres.
One of these was in the Dominican Republic.
This means that shoppers up and down the country and abroad should be aware and check their packaging.
They should specifically look for NH European Style Butter Blend UPC code: 1 00 78684 73961 2 – lot code: 5064036503.
It was packaged and sent to distribution centers in white paperboard cases with 36 blocks contained in each case.
Anyone who discovers they have a recalled item should not consume it.
They should instead bin it or return it to the store they bought it from for a refund.
Given the size of the recall, shoppers of major retailers such as Walmart and Kroger are likely to be impacted, per Food Business News.
“People with food allergies should read labels and avoid the foods they are allergic to,” the FDA states.
“The law requires that food labels identify the food source of all major food allergens used to make the food.”
As the recall continues, Bunge will be assessing it’s quality controls to stop further issues.
It comes as Walmart and Dollar Tree shoppers have been told to dump a popular summer treat over health risk fears.
