Turkana Food Inc. has issued a recall for their dried apricots because the package label does not disclose that the product contains sulfites.
Newsweek reached out to the company via phone Thursday and left a voicemail.
Why It Matters
Numerous recalls have been initiated this year due to the potential for the following: damaged products, foodborne illness, contamination and undeclared food allergens.
Millions of Americans experience food sensitivities or food allergies every year. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the nine “major” food allergens in the U.S. are eggs, milk, fish, wheat, soybeans, Crustacean shellfish, sesame, tree nuts and peanuts.
What To Know
According to the FDA alert, the Floria brand dried apricots have an expiration date of November 2026. The impacted product has a LOT number of 440090478-15-333 that can be found at the bottom of the packaging.
The product has a UPC Label of 2539560010 that can be seen on a sticker at the top of the package, the FDA says.
The dried apricots were distributed in Florida, Kentucky, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Texas, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Maryland, Ohio, Alabama, Missouri and California.
There have been no reported illnesses as of Thursday, the FDA says. The alert also has pictures of the recalled product that potential customers can cross reference.
Below is a map of the impacted states:
What People Are Saying
The FDA alert in part: “The recall was the result of a routine sampling performed by the New York State Department of Agriculture and markets which revealed that the finished products contained Sulfites that were not listed on the product labelling. The company has ceased production and distribution of the products as FDA and the company continue their investigation to correct the issue with the manufacturer.”
In an email to Newsweek in January, the FDA said: “Most recalls in the U.S. are carried out voluntarily by the product manufacturer and when a company issues a public warning, typically via news release, to inform the public of a voluntary product recall, the FDA shares that release on our website as a public service.
“The FDA’s role during a voluntary, firm-initiated, recall is to review the recall strategy, evaluate the health hazard presented by the product, monitor the recall, and as appropriate alert the public and other companies in the supply chain about the recall,” the FDA continued.
It added: “The FDA provides public access to information on recalls by posting a listing of recalls according to their classification in the FDA Enforcement Report, including the specific action taken by the recalling company. The FDA Enforcement Report is designed to provide a public listing of products in the marketplace that are being recalled.”
Additional information on recalls can be found via the FDA’s Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts.
What Happens Next
Customers who have purchased the recalled dried apricots are asked not to eat them and return them to the original place of purchase for a refund, the FDA says.
People with additional questions may call Turkana Foods Inc. at 908-810-8800 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
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