Bread Recall Update as FDA Sets Concern Level

Bags of bread pastries that were recalled earlier this year have been given a Class II risk definition on Friday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meaning consuming them could “cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.”

In total 16 bags were recalled that had been produced by the La Superior Bakery in Columbia, Tennessee, and distributed in Alabama. The products were found to contain undeclared sesame seeds that could trigger an allergic reaction.

Eleven bags were listed as containing pan de rancho, a traditional bread popular in Mexico and southern Texas, while the other five held pan Guatemalteco, a sweet pastry style treat. Each bag from both sets contained five of their respective bakery products.

Both products were initially recalled voluntarily on July 29, with the risk classification then being issued on August 23.

According to the FDA’s website, a Class II recall is issued in “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.”

This contrasts with the more serious Class I recall, in which there is “a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death,” and the least severe Class III recall “in which use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.”

The 11 bags of pan de rancho covered by the FDA warning have a recall number F-1747-2024, while the pan Guatemalteco has recall number F-1748-2024.

Newsweek has contacted La Superior Bakery for comment by telephone on Saturday outside of regular business hours.

Professor Darin Detwiler, an expert in food policy and corporate social responsibility at Northeastern University, previously told Newsweek: “While not as urgent as Class I recalls, Class II recalls should still be heeded, and the products should be returned or disposed of according to the instructions provided.”

This week also saw 1,000 “L&B Beautiful Morning Glory Muffins” products that had already been recalled by the FDA given a Class II risk definition by the federal agency.

The FDA warned the muffins, produced by Minnesota-based Lunds Mitchell, could contain pieces of metal.

“Hard or sharp foreign objects in food may cause traumatic injury including laceration and perforation of tissues of the mouth, tongue, throat, stomach and intestine as well as damage to the teeth and gums,” the FDA said.

On Friday, a recall notice was posted on the FDA’s website for Bliss Tree Butter Snacks, which were being sold nationwide that the agency said could contain milk and sesame without listing the ingredients on the packaging.

The products had been imported by Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar Overseas LLC of Edison, New Jersey, and were for sale in retail outlets and online via Amazon.

Separately nearly 140,000 popsicles, produced by Unilever, have been recalled as they were found to contain undeclared milk, which could trigger an allergic reaction in some consumers.