Health authorities have issued an urgent recall for a popular BBQ sauce over fears it could trigger a life-threatening allergic reaction.
The Savannah Bee Company pulled its Honey BBQ sauce-mustard from shelves after the product was found to contain wheat and soy that were not declared on the label.
Officials warned that the hidden ingredients posed a risk to the millions of Americans with an allergy. Mild reactions include itching, hives and a skin rash, while, in serious cases, it can cause anaphylaxis, or a tightness in the throat and chest pain that causes trouble breathing.
Revealing the recall notice, the FDA warned: ‘People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat or soy run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume the honey BBQ sauce-mustard.’
The sauce was sold nationwide in 16 fluid oz glass bottles that had an orange label on the front in both retail stores and directly to consumers.
Officials said the labeling issue was caused after the label for the company’s Honey BBQ sauce-sweet was mistakenly applied to the recalled Honey BBQ sauce-mustard.
No illnesses have been reported to date.
Customers have been urged to throw out the sauce immediately and request a full refund from the manufacturer.
Health authorities are recalling a popular BBQ sauce (stock photo)
The incorrectly labeled bottles were sold between July last year and February, the recall notice said.
The issue was only brought to attention after a customer contacted the business. This led to an investigation, which revealed the labeling issue.
It was not clear how many bottles were recalled or how the labeling issue occurred, but in previous instances this has been blamed on supplier error.
Recalled lots of the BBQ sauce have a lot number and best-before date etched onto the neck of the bottle. The lot number is UPC 8 50033 93758 9.
The best-before date is May 16, 2027.
An estimated 2 million Americans have an allergy to wheat while more than 1 million have an allergy to soy.
These are caused by the body’s immune system overreacting to wheat or soy and attacking it as though it were a dangerous pathogen.
Infants and young children are most likely to have an allergy to wheat or soy, doctors say, although the allergies can emerge at any age.
A wheat allergy can be triggered by eating foods containing wheat, breathing in wheat flour or coming into contact with products that contain wheat.
The recalled sauce, pictured second left, was labeled incorrectly. Due to this, it contains undeclared soy and wheat
Doctors at the Mayo Clinic say that avoiding wheat is the best treatment, but warn that it is found in many foods, including some ice creams, soy sauces and hot dogs.
For a soy allergy, also triggered by soy exposure, doctors also tell patients to avoid soy and soy-containing products where possible.
This recall comes barely three months after RITZ Crackers recalled certain lots of its cracker sandwiches in December over a similar labeling issue.
Mondelez Global, which made the snacks, issued an alert after it found cartons of its RITZ Cracker Sandwiches were incorrectly packaged, with some peanut butter sandwiches mislabeled as the cheese variety.
This posed a serious risk to the 3million Americans allergic to peanuts, who could be at risk of ‘serious or life-threatening allergic reactions’ if they ate the product.
The recalled product was the RITZ Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwiches 20-pack carton.
There were no reports of injuries or illnesses during the recall.
