A range of frozen pizzas has been recalled because they may contain undeclared allergens, the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced.
Vermont-based food producer 802 VT Frozen is recalling around 8,221 pounds of frozen meat pizza after a branding mistake meant the products were labeled incorrectly. The product was found to contain soy, one of the nine major food allergens in the U.S. after being testing by the FSIS in a routine procedure.
The mislabeled "MEAT!!! CRISPY WOOD-FIRED CRUST HAND MADE PIZZA" products were distributed to grocery stores in seven states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
All affected products come in square pizza boxes with red and white branding. The pizzas have a "best if used by" date range between April 25, 2024, and April 25, 2025, indicated on the back of the packaging, and an establishment number of "EST.46308" contained inside the USDA mark of inspection. Newsweek has contacted 802 VT Frozen for additional comment via email outside of normal working hours.
According to the FSIS release, there have been no confirmed illnesses or allergic reactions reported so far.
Anyone who has purchased the product is advised to either throw it away or return to the place of purchase. The product can be frozen, with the FSIS urging consumers to check their freezers if they believe they may have purchased a pizza. If you have eaten one of the products and have a soy allergy, you should contact your healthcare provider.
Soybeans are one of the major allergens designated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The other eight designated by the FDA are milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and sesame.
If contained in a product, the ingredients must be declared on all packaging except in limited circumstances. Consuming soy products by those with the allergy can "run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction."
Food allergies can often lead to unpleasant symptoms that at times can be life threatening. According to the FDA, food-allergy reactions can lead to hives, rashes, face, tongue and lip swelling, vomiting and/or diarrhea, abdominal cramping, coughing and wheezing.
More serious signs of an allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis, can include swelling of the throat, a serious drop in blood pressure, difficulty breathing and in some cases loss of consciousness. The FDA warns that "it is important to understand that a mild allergic reaction does not always mean the allergy is mild."
Anyone who believes they or another person are having a serious allergic reaction should alert their healthcare provider immediately.
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