Pasta Warning Issued Over Undeclared Allergens: 'Should Be Thrown Away'
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A public health alert has been issued for misbranded frozen pasta that may contain undeclared soy and sesame allergens.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a warning on Wednesday regarding packets of Schnucks pork and beef tortellini that may contain pork and beef toasted ravioli instead.
The warning stated that the pork and beef ravioli contain soy and sesame, known allergens, which are not declared on the product label.
No official recall has been requested because the product is no longer available for purchase, but the FSIS urged consumers to check their freezers for the affected items. The alert covers products distributed in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
Why It Matters
Food allergies are a significant health concern in the United States, with soybeans and sesame among the nine major food allergens identified under federal law. The other seven include milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts and wheat.
Allergic reactions can vary in severity from coughing and a runny nose to a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis.
According to the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, almost 6 percent of U.S. adults and children have a food allergy.
Stock image of tortellini and tomato sauce.
Stock image of tortellini and tomato sauce.
Getty Images
What To Know
The public health alert said the affected 16-oz bags of Schnucks Tortellini Pork & Beef had a best before date of 05/27/2026 printed at the top of the bag. The product subject to the public health alert bears the establishment number "EST. 13051" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The affected product was shipped to a Schnucks distribution center in Missouri and sent onward to store locations in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
The misbranding was discovered after a consumer filed a complaint about receiving ravioli in packaging labeled as tortellini. Upon investigation, the company notified FSIS, which led to the public health alert.
P. E. & F, Inc. told Newsweek that no injuries or illnesses have been reported in connection with the health alert.
What People Are Saying
Schnucks told Newsweek: "Since the affected lot of the product is out of date, it is no longer available at Schnucks stores, but we do urge our customers to check their home freezers."
What Happens Next
The FSIS said consumers who have purchased the products are urged not to consume them. The products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase, it added.
Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider, it said.
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