Eggs Recalled As Health Warning Issued
Eggs sit pictured on August 26, 2010 in San Rafael, California. Some liquid egg products have been recalled.
Thousands of pounds of liquid egg products have been recalled due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
The manufacturer, Michael Foods Inc. of Gaylord, Minnesota, has voluntarily recalled the products.
The recalled products were produced on June 11, and are packaged in a 32-oz. paperboard carton with "Fair Meadow Foundations Whole Eggs with Citric Acid" written on the side.
They can be identified by their lot code 4162G and have a use-by date of September 16, 2024.
The FSIS shared an image of the product to help consumers identify them.
The issue stems from a labeling mix-up which led to the product Breakfast Blend Scrambled Egg accidentally being put into cartons labeled as the Whole Eggs with Citric Acid.
The Breakfast Blend Scrambled Egg contains milk, a known allergen, which is not declared on the label of the Whole Eggs with Citric Acid, the FSIS said.
The problem was discovered when the company found that a number of cartons for the Whole Eggs with Citric Acid were unaccounted for, while there was an equal number of extra cartons for the Breakfast Blend Scrambled Egg.
Michael Foods Inc. investigated and discovered the mix-up, leading to the recall.
The recall applies to around 4,620 pounds worth of liquid egg products.
These products were shipped to restaurants in Alabama, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, and Utah.
There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions because of consumption of these products, the FSIS said.
Anyone concerned about adverse health effects should contact a healthcare provider, the agency advised.
The agency said it was concerned that some of these products might be in institutional and restaurant refrigerators, and warned that these products should be thrown away or returned to their place of purchase and not be served to consumers.
Newsweek reached out to Post Holdings, Inc., which owns Michael Foods, via email outside of regular working hours.
Michael Foods manufactures and distributes various food products, including refrigerated egg and potato products.
The company describes itself on its website as "the nation's largest processor of value-added eggs," referring to eggs that are processed in a way that adds convenience to the consumer, such as by being pre-cooked or packed for large-scale use.
Milk is one of nine major allergens recognized by the Food and Drug Administration which need to be listed on food labels as an allergen.
Accidental milk exposure for someone with a milk allergy can range from mild side effects like hives, vomiting, and diarrhea to a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis.
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