Fresh & Easy Ginger Spice Cookie Dough Recalled from the Market Due to Undeclared Peanuts in Some Mislabeled Packages

The fresh&easy™ Ginger Spice Cookie Dough (16 oz.) is being voluntarily recalled by the Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market. This comes with the alert of undeclared peanuts, which could prove a grave risk to those individuals allergic to it, if consumed by them.

The cookies in question were sold in California, Nevada and Arizona in Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market stores.

The discovery of a limited number of the Ginger Spice Cookie Dough prompted the recall. The packages have an ‘Enjoy By’ date of December 03. The stores have removed all such packages.

Food allergy

A food allergy is an adverse immune response to a food protein. Food allergies are very different from other unpleasant reactions to food, such as food intolerance, pharmacological reactions, and toxin-mediated reactions.

Common food allergies

Sensitivity to peanuts is one of the most common food allergies. Peanut allergies may be severe, but children with peanut allergies sometimes outgrow them.

Many children under five have egg allergies. Typically, the cause is the proteins in the yolk.

Another common food allergy is to dairy products. Soy, wheat, seafood, shellfish, tree nuts, fruits, vegetables, spices, synthetic and natural colors, and chemical additives also contain allergenic proteins.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Allergy tests are of three common types: skin prick test, blood test, and food challenges. Treatment mainly consists of avoiding food that has been identified as allergens.

Preventive measures by law

Since certain food pose high risk to individuals with food allergies, many countries have introduced laws governing the labeling of food products, which indicate that their products contain major allergens or by-products of major allergens. Under the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-282) in the United States, companies are required to disclose on the label whether the product contains a major food allergen in clear, plain language.

The Compliance Policy Guides (CPG) Section 555.250 Statement of Policy for Labeling and Preventing Cross-contact of Common Food Allergens (New 4/2001)

In order to combat the issue of consumer reports regarding adverse reactions to allergenic substance in foods, the FDA issued a letter titled "Notice to Manufacturers," dated June 10, 1996, which addressed labeling issues and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).

The agency believes the following foods can cause serious allergic reactions to certain individuals: peanuts, soybeans, milk, eggs, fish, crustacea, tree nuts, wheat.

POLICY:

Products containing the allergenic ingredients or sub-ingredients directly added should be labeled appropriately. Additionally, products containing it should comply with 21 U.S.C. 343(i)(2). Where substances that are, bear, or contain allergens are added as ingredients or sub-ingredients (including rework), the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) requires a complete listing of the food ingredients (section 403(i)(2); 21 U.S.C. 343(i)(2); 21 C.F.R.101.4) unless a labeling exemption applies.