More than a dozen states have issued an urgent recall of ice cream because it may cause severe allergic reactions.
Blue Bell Ice Cream is recalling a small amount of its Moo-llennium Crunch Ice Cream half-gallon package on its own initiative, as it might include almonds, walnuts and/or pecans that werenot indicated on the product label.
The secret components present a significant riskfor the millions of Americans who suffer from nut allergies, reactions can vary from minor issues such as hives and swelling to anaphylaxis, a severe and life-threatening condition that may lead to breathing difficulties.
The FDA stated: 'Individuals with an allergy or strong sensitivity to almonds, walnuts, and pecans may experience a severe or potentially fatal allergic reaction if they ingest these items.'
The impacted items were manufactured at a plant located in Brenham, Texas, and were incorrectly placed in Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream containers featuring a Moo-llennium Crunch lid. A Blue Bell staff member identified the packaging mistake while restocking supplies at a retail store.
Products that were recalled were available for purchase at retail stores inAlabama, Arkansas, Florida Panhandle, Northwest Georgia, Southern Indiana, Southern Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Southwestern Virginia.
The items can be recognized as Moo-llennium Crunch Ice Cream, sold in a half-gallon carton shaped like a Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and featuring a Moo-llennium Crunch lid. The following code is found on the top of the lid: 061027524.
No health issues or negative side effects have been documented so far, and no additional packaging problems have been reported.
Approximately 10 million Americans suffer from a nut allergy, where peanuts and tree nuts such as walnuts and almonds account for roughly one-third of these cases.
Common allergy symptoms are rashes, wheezing, coughing, nasal blockage, facial and throat swelling, and in extreme situations, anaphylactic shock.
This is a severe allergic response that happens rapidly following contact with an allergen.
It is estimated that between 150 and 200 Americans pass away annually due to anaphylaxis triggered by allergens.
It causes a severe immune reaction, resulting in dizziness, loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, and nausea.
If not addressed promptly using epinephrine (adrenaline), which can be delivered through an injection such as an EpiPen or a nasal spray, an individual may pass away.
The FDA has not assigned a specific classification to the recall, although it might be considered a Class I recall, which is the most severe, because of the potential life-threatening dangers.
A Class I recall refers to "a situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a non-compliant product could lead to serious adverse health effects or death," as stated by the FDA.
The FDA advised buyers who acquired the affected items to bring them back to the store where they were purchased in order to receive a complete refund.
Customers may contact 979-836-7977 or send an email to consumerrelations@bluebell.com for further details.
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