04
Mar
Granola Bars by Big Sky Bread Recalled due to Undeclared Milk on the Food Label
Products Recalled:
Big Sky Bread Company Chocolate Chunk Granola and Chocolate Chunk Peanut Butter Chip Granola were recalled due to undeclared milk on the food label. Both products are produced by Big Sky Bread Company (U.S.).
Problem:
- The Big Sky Bread company announced a recall of Granola bars on November 9th 2022. The U.S Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) officially published about this recall on November 14th 2022. These products contain undeclared milk, which might be a possible health risk for people with a milk allergy.
- Big Sky Bread Company has recalled the products from consumers and contacted the relevant allergy support organisations that would inform their members about the recall. Additionally, the company has sent its consumers a point-of-sale notice. Customers are informed in these notices why the goods are being recalled and what to do if they purchase them.
- No illnesses have been reported to date. However, a routine inspection revealed that products containing milk were being sold that did not disclose the presence of milk, which led to the recall of the products [1].
Scientific Evidence:
- Individuals allergic to milk may experience hives, itching, tingling around the lips and mouth, swollen lips, tongue or throat, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, vomiting, and anaphylaxis after consuming milk products.
- A life-threatening reaction, anaphylaxis can narrow the airways and obstruct breathing. Milk follows peanuts and tree nuts as the most common agent to cause anaphylaxis [2].
Product Image:
What Regulations Clarifies:
- The law requires that food labels identify all the allergens used to make food.
- This requirement is met if an ingredient’s common or usual name identifies that allergen’s food source name (for example, buttermilk).
- The potential allergen should be mentioned on the food label in either way-
- Allergens on the label must be emphasised using a different font, style, and background colour or by bolding the text. These help consumers learn more about the ingredients in packaged foods and are beneficial for those who need to avoid certain foods due to food allergies or intolerances.
- The allergens could also be mentioned adjacent to the ingredients list in a statement stating “contains.”
Example: “Contains tree nuts, eggs and soy” [3].