Sugar Foods in Georgia has recalled its tortilla strips product, which may contain an undeclared allergen, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
In late November, the company issued a recall for its Fresh Gourmet Tortilla Strips Santa Fe Style, after a consumer contacted the firm to report that the pouches contained crispy onions, rather than the tortilla strips. The crispy onion strips contain wheat, which is not listed on the label for the tortilla strips product.
Wheat is one of nine major allergens that must be marked on all food items distributed in the United States.
On Friday, the FDA gave the product a Class II risk designation. A Class II recall is a “situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote,” the agency said on its website.
Newsweek contacted Sugar Foods for comment via email outside normal working hours.
The affected packages—3.5-ounce pouches of Fresh Gourmet Tortilla Strips Santa Fe Style—have the UPC 7 87359 17504 6 and a best-by date of June 20, 2025.
The packages were distributed in 22 states between September 30 and November 11. They were shipped to distribution centers in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington.
People with a sensitivity to wheat run the risk of serious or potentially life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume the product. No illnesses have been reported, the FDA said.
The nine major allergens are milk, soybeans, egg, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and sesame.
While they do not form an exhaustive list of allergens, these are the most common foods that are known to cause allergic reactions.
Allergy reactions can lead to a number of symptoms, including hives, rashes, swelling, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and coughing or wheezing.
In more severe cases, a serious allergic reaction, which is known as anaphylaxis, can include swelling of the throat, a drop in blood pressure, difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness.
Undeclared allergens are the most common reason for food recalls announced by the FDA and the Food Safety and Inspection Service.
About 6 percent of U.S. adults and 8 percent of children have one or more food allergies.
Earlier this year, Traceone, a regulatory compliance firm, found that undeclared allergens made up 40 percent of recalls issued by both governing bodies between 2020 and 2024.
Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact [email protected].
The post Tortilla Recall Update as FDA Sets Risk Level appeared first on Newsweek.
