A POPULAR cookie brand has abruptly yanked six different kinds of treats off shelves after failing to disclose potentially deadly ingredients.
The US Food & Drug Administration urged shoppers to double-check their pantries in the food recall issued on Wednesday.
A popular cookie brand has abruptly pulled six types of treats from shelves[/caption]
The US Food & Drug Administration said that Gina Marie Bakery failed to report potentially dangerous ingredients[/caption]
The recall affects cookies made by Gina Marie Bakery, which is a manufacturer based in Connecticut.
Some of the cookies contain undeclared almonds, sesame seeds, and artificial food dyes.
These ingredients could cause some people who have severe allergies to suffer from life-threatening reactions.
The dyes found in the cookies include Red 40, Red 3, Blue 1, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6.
They are synthetic colorings known to trigger reactions in some people, according to the American College of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.
Shoppers with allergies to any of these ingredients could suffer from mild symptoms like hives or itching, or severe side effects like anaphylaxis.
The bakery agreed to the recall and said it is moving quickly to pull the products from store shelves.
But thousands of packages have already been sold across Connecticut and parts of Massachusetts.
The recalled cookies were stocked in supermarkets, gourmet shops, delis, and even under the Nardelli’s label in Connecticut.
Some of the stores that sell Gina Marie’s products include Big Y, Stop & Shop, Price Chopper, LaBonne’s Supermarkets, Adam’s Markets, and Highland Park Markets.
So far, no illnesses have been reported, but the FDA is still warning people with nut, sesame, or dye sensitivities to stay away.
The recall covers six different cookie varieties, including Italian Mixed Vanilla, Italian Sesame, Vanilla Chocolate Dipped, Vanilla with Apricot Jam, Toasted Almond and Cherry Biscotti, and Vanilla Cookies with Raspberry Peach Jam.
Each was sold in 1-pound and 2-pound clear plastic clamshell containers.
The FDA urges anyone who purchased an item to stop eating them immediately and instead return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
The bakery has halted further distribution until new labeling fixes are in place.
Stores that sold the contaminated products
- Big Y stores throughout Connecticut and Springfield, Massachusetts
- Stop and Shop stores throughout Connecticut
- Nardelli’s stores throughout Connecticut
- LaBonne’s Markets in Watertown and Prospect
- Adams Hometown Markets in Milford and Watertown
- Highland Park Markets in Glastonbury, Manchester and Farmington
- Price Chopper in Newington, Bristol and Middletown
- T and J Supermarket in East Haven
- Kensington Market
- Public Market of Newington
- Ragozzino’s in Plantsville
- Lewis Farms in Southington
- Durham Market
- Liuzzi Gourmet Food Market in North Haven
- Cappetta’s Italian in West Haven
- Roma Importing in Shelton
- Walsh’s Market in Wolcott
- Tops Market in Plantsville
- The Local Gourmet in Southbury
- Connecticut Fresh Food and Produce Market in Wallingford
- Wayside Market in Waterbury
- Jimmy’s Store in Torrington
- La Molisana Sausage in Waterbury
- New Fairfield Food Center
- Pat’s IGA in Wolcott
- Watertown Meat Center
- Tommy’s Place and Market in Bristol
- Cavallo’s Deli and Imported Italian Foods in Waterbury
- La Strega Italian Deli in Middlebury
OTHER FOOD RECALLS
This isn’t the first recall to hit shoppers this summer.
One major case involved Jessie Lord Bakery, which pulled 136,000 lemon meringue pies from Walmart shelves across 14 states due to an undeclared Yellow #5 dye.
The FDA also issued its highest alert after 32,000 pounds of pecans from Navarro Pecan Holdings were recalled for possible Salmonella.
Mondelez Global pulled Ritz cracker sandwiches too, after some were mislabeled Cheese but contained Peanut Butter.
At Target, more than 57,000 Good and Gather burrito bowls were recalled after they were found to contain undeclared shrimp.
Meanwhile, Wegmans yanked canned fruits after tests revealed elevated lead contamination.
