More than 650 pounds of raw meat products are being recalled amid concern they contain a life-threatening allergen, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
M&P Production LTD is recalling about 669 pounds of raw lamb and beef samsa products "due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen," according to a USDA recall alert released on Wednesday. The product contains sesame seeds, but this was not declared on the product label, according to the alert.
Sesame is the ninth-most-common food allergy among children and adults in the U.S., affecting roughly 0.23 percent of Americans, according to the organization Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE).
If someone who is allergic to sesame consumes it, they may suffer a range of reactions that could be mild, such as hives, or more severe, such as anaphylaxis, a sudden and life-threatening allergic reaction that affects the entire body. Individuals with sesame allergies are recommended to always have an epinephrine injection device on hand, as epinephrine is the "first line treatment" for anaphylaxis, according to FARE.
The raw, frozen lamb and beef samsa products facing the recall were produced between January 2 and February 22, 2024, according to the USDA. They have a shelf life of up to two years. They were shipped to stores in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
There are two specific items that are subject to recall, each of which have the establishment number "EST. 18832" in the USDA mark of inspection.
The first is a 16-ounce, plastic wrapped tray package containing "samsa halal" with a use before date of anywhere between January 2 and February 22, 2025.
The second is a 12-ounce plastic wrapped tray package containing "M&P delicacies lamb dumplings lamb samsa" with a use before date between January 2 and February 22, 2025.
"[The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service] is concerned that some product may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase," the alert reads.
There have not been any reports of adverse reactions due to the consumption of the products, and the USDA urged anyone concerned about a potential illness to reach out to a healthcare provider, according to the alert.
Newsweek reached out to M&P Production for comment via email.
The FDA has already announced more than 50 food-related recalls in 2024, fueling concerns from Americans that they are on the rise. Research published by life sciences software company MasterControl in December found that food recalls issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the FDA have jumped by 115 percent since 2018.
Uncommon Knowledge
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