People who purchased Red's brand frozen burritos at Costco stores should carefully review the products they have at home. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a public health alert after detecting a labeling error that could pose a risk to those with egg allergies.
Although the product has already been removed from sale, authorities believe that it could still remain stored in consumers' freezers.
What happened to the frozen burritos sold at Costco?
In fact, inside some packages were other burritos made with eggs, an ingredient that is not declared on the label of the product sold.
So far, authorities have not specified which food ended up in the wrong boxes. However, they pointed out that it contains eggs among its ingredients and recalled that Red's also manufactures breakfast burritos that include this food.
Why does this error represent a risk?
The main problem is not only that consumers have received a product different from the one they bought, but that the food contains an undeclared allergen.
Eggs are one of the main food allergens in the United States and can cause reactions ranging from mild discomfort to severe anaphylaxis in sensitive people.
According to health authorities, those with an egg allergy could experience symptoms such as:
Despite the potential risk, the USDA reported that so far there are no confirmed reports of illnesses or adverse reactions related to the consumption of these burritos.
What burritos are included in the alert?
The affected products correspond to:
These products were distributed only to distribution centers and Costco stores in three states in the Midwest of the United States:
Affected lots
FSIS asked to review the lot number located on the side of the box. The codes included in the alert are:
Why wasn't there an official recall of the product?
Unlike other food-related incidents, on this occasion the USDA did not issue a recall of the product.
The reason is that the burritos are no longer available for sale in Costco stores.
However, authorities decided to issue a public health alert due to the possibility that some consumers still have the boxes in their freezers.
What should consumers do?
FSIS recommends that anyone who has any of the affected lots not consume the product, especially if they or anyone in their family has an egg allergy.
Costco also sent a notification to its partners asking not to consume the product if there is an egg sensitivity and to go to a branch to obtain a full refund.
What do authorities say about egg allergies?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers eggs to be one of the leading food allergens in the United States.
US legislation requires that all ingredients and allergens present in processed foods be clearly identified on the labeling, precisely to avoid situations such as the one detected in this case.
The authorities remind that an allergic reaction can appear a few minutes after consumption or several hours later and, depending on the sensitivity of each person, it can become a medical emergency.
Where to get more information?
People who have questions about the product can contact Red's All Natural directly or consult the official channels of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture.
Meanwhile, the call from the authorities is clear: if the packaging matches the affected lots, do not consume the burritos and choose to throw them away or return them to Costco to avoid any risk associated with the presence of undeclared eggs.
