Trader Joe's Dressing Recall Update as Highest Risk Warning Issued

The recall of a salad dressing sold at Trader Joe's—which was initiated because a labeling error omitted the allergens peanuts, sesame, soy and wheat—has been issued the highest-level health risk warning.

Why It Matters

According to the Food and Drug Administration, millions of people in the U.S. have food allergies or food sensitivities. Food sensitivities can range from mild reactions to potentially life-threatening symptoms. The FDA recognizes nine major food allergens: milk, eggs, sesame, fish, tree nuts, crustacean shellfish, peanuts, wheat and soybeans.

The inclusion of peanuts, sesame, soy and wheat in a product without proper disclosure poses a serious risk of allergic reactions, which can range from mild discomfort to life-threatening anaphylaxis.

What To Know

Fresh Creative Foods' recall of Hot Honey Mustard Dressing, which it produced under the Trader Joe's brand, has received a Class I risk warning.

A Class I risk warning is the most severe level of health risk classification issued by the FDA or the Department of Agriculture for food recalls. It indicates that the product poses a serious or life-threatening health risk to consumers.

The recall includes only 12-ounce bottles of the Hot Honey Mustard Dressing with a use-by date of May 27 and a product code of 80152.

According to the FDA, the dressing was distributed to Trader Joe's locations in Washington, D.C., and 17 states: Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, North Carolina, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.

No customer complaints related to the product or the recall have been reported to date.

According to Fox Business, this is the third recall for Trader Joe's products since February, with the grocery store chain having previously issued recalls for glass containers of Gerolsteiner Sparkling Natural Mineral Water and Acai Bowl frozen meals.

What People Are Saying

Trader Joe's told Newsweek in February: "At Trader Joe's, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our customers and Crew Members. With this in mind, we do the daily work to make certain our products meet our stringent food safety expectations. We don't take any chances when it comes to product safety and quality.

"We have a close relationship with our vendors. We err on the side of caution and are proactive in addressing issues. We voluntarily take action quickly, aggressively investigating potential problems and removing the product from sale if there is any doubt about its safety or quality.

"We value information and clear communication. Should a recall become necessary, we waste no time in providing our customers details. Our recall-related communications go well beyond regulatory requirements: We share news through in-store signs, on our website, and through email alerts."

What Happens Next

According to the FDA's recall notice, customers who purchased this product can discard the item or return it to a Trader Joe's location for a full refund.