Ice cream sold in more than a dozen states has been urgently recalled due to a risk of life-threatening allergic reactions.
Blue Bell Ice Cream is voluntarily recalling ‘a limited quantity’ of its Moo-llennium Crunch Ice Cream half gallon because they may contain almonds, walnuts and/or pecans that were not listed on the ingredient label.
The hidden ingredients pose a serious threat to the millions of Americans with nut allergies, with reactions ranging from mild symptoms like hives and swelling to anaphylaxis, a potentially deadly condition that can cause difficulty breathing.
The FDA said: ‘People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to almonds, walnuts, and pecans run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.’
The affected products were produced at a facility in Brenham, Texas, and were mistakenly packaged in Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream cartons with a Moo-llennium Crunch lid. A Blue Bell employee discovered the packaging error while restocking at a retailer.
Recalled products were sold at retail outlets in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida Panhandle, Northwest Georgia, Southern Indiana, Southern Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Southwest Virginia.
The products can be identified as Moo-llennium Crunch Ice Cream packaged in a Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough half gallon carton with a Moo-llennium Crunch lid. The following code is located on the top of the lid: 061027524.
No illnesses or adverse reactions have been reported to date, and there have been no other packaging errors reported.
Blue Bell has recalled ‘a limited quantity’ of ice cream over the potential presence of undeclared allergens (stock image)
Pictured above is one of the recalled Blue Bell products
About 10million Americans have a nut allergy, with peanut and tree nuts like walnuts and almonds making up about one in three of those.
Symptoms of an allergy include hives, wheezing, coughing, congestion, face and throat swelling and in severe cases, anaphylaxis.
This is a life-threatening allergic reaction that occurs very quickly after being exposed to an allergen.
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Experts estimate 150 to 200 Americans die from allergen-induced anaphylaxis every year.
It triggers an extreme immune response, leading to dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath and vomiting.
If not treated quickly with epinephrine (adrenaline), which can be administered via injection like an EpiPen or nasal spray, a person can die.
The FDA has not given the recall a designation, though it could be classified as Class I, the most serious, due to the life-threatening risks.
A Class I recall describes 'a situation 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,' according to the FDA.
The FDA urged customers who purchased the recalled products to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Consumers can call 979-836-7977 or email [email protected] for more information.